Chef/Cook

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated part-time cook to join our catering team at Radbourne and Kingsway, Derby. You will prepare nutritious meals, manage allergens and portions, and support hygiene standards in a busy hospital kitchen.

You may work across two sites, with shifts that include occasional weekends. The role supports patient care and staff well-being with freshly cooked meals.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking nutritious meals in a busy kitchen.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety legislation.
• Understanding of allergens and dietary requirements including IDDSI textures.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook meals for patients, staff and visitors daily.
• Identify allergens in foods and ensure correct portions.
• Follow recipes, manage portion control and reduce food waste.
• Maintain cleanliness and observe health, safety and hygiene rules.
• Cover shifts across Radbourne and Kingsway sites as needed.

Skills

Cooking

Food hygiene

Allergen identification

Portion control

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or Level 2 NVQ

Job description

View our current vacancies by professional area below, or view all our vacancies athealthjobsuk.com

Main area Chef/Cook Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent: Cross site working between Radbourne Unit and Kingsway Hospital Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (5 days a week over a four week rota with some shifts will involve weekend working) Job ref 383-FAC-7635-26-A

Site Radbourne & Kingsway sites Town Derby Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 10/09/2026 23:59

Want to make a real difference and have a truly rewarding career? Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of ‘making a positive difference in people's lives’.

We’ve been rated ‘good’ overall by the CQC, with some outstanding services. The CQC commented at our most recent inspection on how our colleagues “treated patients with compassion and kindness” and “felt positive and proud about working for the trust.

We are passionate about making equality, diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We take pride in our “People First Culture” which creates a workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging, difference is celebrated, and people are comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We value the richness that comes from having colleagues that are fully representative of the local community. We welcome people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, protected characteristics, and with all backgrounds and experiences.

Job overview

We are seeking to appoint a motivated and enthusiastic part-time cook to work as part of our friendly Catering team that work between Kingsway Hospital and the Radbourne Unit, Royal Derby Hospital, providing quality fresh cooked meals to our patients, staff and visitors.

Other jobs include preparing sandwiches, salads, hot and cold puddings and general cleaning duties to maintain the required hygiene standards that are essential in a busy food production kitchen.

You should also have the ability to work flexible hours at times when it may be necessary to provide cover for colleagues during annual leave or sickness periods at our Radbourne and Kingsway Hospital sites.

Main duties of the job

To prepare and cook nutritional, well-balanced meals from fresh for patients, staff and visitors on a daily basis.

To correctly identify allergens in foods that are being prepared for patients, staff and visitors.

To understand special dietary needs, for health, follow texture modified diets under the IDDSI guidelines, religious or cultural reasons and to communicate special diet information to customers

To follow recipes accurately, to identify allergens in food and to ensure correct number of portions are produced for correct consistency, flavour and texture.

The assessment of good portion control, managing food waste.

To ensure that all Health, Safety and Food Hygiene Legislation is observed, which will include assisting with the cleaning schedules for all catering areas and equipment.

To work at other units beyond the normal rostered pattern as requested, sites being Radbourne or Kingsway.

Working for our organisation

Values

As an employee of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust you are required to adhere to the Trust’s overriding value of putting “patients at the heart of everything we do”. In recognising both the values expressed in the NHS Constitution and the Trust Values you will:

• Take pride in the Trust, show loyalty and commitment.
• Build and maintain trust in all our relationships.
• Treat everyone with respect, recognise people’s differences.
• Value everyone, listen to others and respond accordingly.
• Be positive, honourable and honest but also sensitive
• Be respectful, welcoming, polite and courteous.
• Put quality at the centre of all we do.
• Educate and develop ourselves to perform to the highest standards

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The preparation, cooking and service of meals for patients, staff, and visitors serving freshly cooked nutritious and healthy food.

To follow recipes accurately, to identify allergens in food and to ensure correct number of portions are produced for correct consistency flavour and texture.

The assessment of good portion control, managing food waste.

To understand special dietary needs, for health, follow texture modified diets under the IDDSI guidelines, religious or cultural reasons and to communicate special diet information to staff and customers.

To deal with all ward / customer liaisons in an effective and courteous manner at all times, whether over the telephone or one to one basis when required to do so.

Ability to work on own initiative.

Take food orders by telephone using the call order system and cook food as requested.

To keep clean all working areas and cleaning of work equipment when used.

To ensure that all Health, Safety and Food Hygiene Legislation is observed, which will include assisting with the cleaning schedules for all catering areas and equipment.

To undertake all activities as prescribed in the Assured Safe Catering procedures and as instructed by the Catering Supervisor or manager.

To be capable of working alone in the supervisor's absence

To work at other units beyond the normal rostered pattern as required, sites being Radbourne or Kingsway.

Complete staff surveys and follow Trust values.

Ensure all mechanical, electrical, and structural defects which require repair are reported to the supervisor.

Make yourself aware of and comply with all Trust policies and procedures.

To carry out any other duties within the kitchen as requested by the Catering Supervisor or Manager.

Person specification

Education

• Either City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or Level 2 NVQ Diploma in food production or relevant experience

Experience

• Experience for cooking nutritious meals using fresh ingredients in a busy kitchen.
• To have knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety legislation
• Knowledge of special dietary requirements and modified texture diets

Additional Information

Flexible Working

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for our service and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's job share, part time or another flexible pattern.

Disability Confident Employer

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process please let us know.

If you require any support in completing the application form please do not hesitate to contact the Recruitment Team, 01332 564856, option 1, option 1 or email [e-mail] and we will be happy to provide assistance.

DBS Checks

The cost of undertaking a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) disclosure will be met by the individual. The Trust will meet the initial costs of the disclosure which will be deducted from your first month’s salary.

This job may close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

Name John Higgins Job title Head of Facilities Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01332 623700

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Recruitment Team
Telephone [phone] option 1, option 1 (please note, my normal working days are Mon-Thu)

Information about joining our bank of temporary workers

Information on the support and education we provide to junior doctors during their years of clinical training

Information about the agreed set of commitments that employees can each expect from the Trust, and give in return