Chef/Cook

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a dedicated Chef/Cook to join its Catering Team in Nottingham. The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing meals for patients and staff while ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Applicants should have relevant catering qualifications and experience. This position offers a salary range of £24,937 to £26,598 per annum for full-time roles, with shift work expected.

Qualifications

• Intermediate level knowledge or experience to City & Guilds Lvl 2 or equivalent.
• Experience in quality monitoring of food production.
• Ability to cook small and large quantities including special diets.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Catering Food Safety Manual and NHS policies.
• Provide assistance with patient meals and menus.
• Act as a point of contact for dietary requirements.

Skills

Cooking skills

Ability to work unsupervised

Accurate documentation

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 or equivalent (NVQ/Apprenticeship Level 2)

C.I.E.H Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Level 3 Food Safety certificate

Job description

Chef/Cook

The closing date is 07 December 2025

We are looking for a Chef/Cook to join our Catering Team at the Wells Road Centre. If you are someone who is hardworking and energetic with a passion for delivering quality, freshly cooked, healthy, wholesome food to our patients, staff then we would love to hear from you.

We have two positions available working 37.5 hours per week, including weekends and bank holidays). Shifts are between 07:00am and 6:30pm, working over a three week rota. Weekend hours are between the hours of 8am and 2pm.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimum salary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the provision of the patient and staff meals by undertaking specific outlined and approved processes and procedures to ensure the quality and food safety of meals at service are safe and appropriate and within the guidelines of food hygiene legislation.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Job responsibilities

To ensure compliance with the Catering Food Safety Manual, Trust policies and procedures and to the Food Safety Act and Food Hygiene Regulations.

To provide assistance and information as required around the patient meals and menus and to provide a point of contact between the catering provision and the wards to identify any issues or specific dietary requirements including allergen information.

Recognised Catering and support services qualification or evidencable working knowledge and experience of Chef and Catering services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Intermediate level of knowledge or experience to City & Guilds Lvl 2 / work towards apprenticeship Lvl 2 standards
• City & Guilds 706/1 or equivalent (NVQ/Apprenticeship Level 2)

Experience

• Ability to cook small and large quantities including special diets
• Experience in quality monitoring of food production
• Experience in ordering supplies

Knowledge

• Knowledge of relevant NHS procedures and practices, including legal requirements

Skills

• Accurately complete documentation
• Ability to work unsupervised

Training

• C.I.E.H Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
• Level 3 Food Safety certificate

Contractual Requirements

• Shift Work
• Willingness to Learn
• Reliable and Flexible
• To attend training as and when required on other sites within the Nottinghamshire NHS Trust

Physical requirements

• Has the physical ability to perform the full range of duties

Values & Behaviours

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Values - Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)