Chef - Special Diets

Integrated Care System; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a qualified Chef for Special Diets at a significant hospital. The successful candidate will be responsible for organizing and preparing meals while maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety. The role requires strong cooking skills and the ability to communicate effectively. This position offers a supportive environment and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Membership of the NHS Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Qualified chef with NVQ or equivalent.
• Experience in catering over 5 years preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Organise and prepare meals for patients on special diets.
• Maintain high standards of food safety and cleanliness.
• Assist in training new staff and report any issues to management.

Skills

Cooking skills

Effective communication

Teamwork

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery

NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery

Level 3 Food Safety Certificate

Food Allergy and Intolerance Certificate

Job description

Go back Equans Working with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Chef - Special Diets

The closing date is 18 August 2025

An opportunity has arisen at theQueen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. We are currently looking for anenthusiastic, friendly person to join the catering team as a qualified chef.

We can offer straight shifts, generous annual leaveentitlement and membership of the NHS Pension scheme.

Applicants will responsible for organising, preparingand cooking of patient special diets.

Applicants will need tohave a broad range of cooking skills. They should be friendly, have a calmdisposition, effective communication skills and be able to take charge in theabsence of the Head Chef.

IN LINE WITH TRUST GUIDELINES THIS POST REQUIRES CANDIDATES TO PROVIDE 3 YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT AND/OR PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES.

PortsmouthHospitals NHS Trust have adopted a smoke-free policy. You are unable to smokeanywhere on the hospital site.

TheTrust is committed to valuing the benefits of diversity in its staff andcommitted to equal opportunities.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for providinga high - quality catering service In line with local operational

procedures andwork schedules.

Communicate informationrelating to food service to users both verbally and by

telephone.

Organise own day to daywork tasks or activities.

Reporting details offaults and failures of equipment /fabric of the building to

management.

Assist in the trainingof new or relief staff.

Report accidents, nearmisses or non-conformities to team leader or manager.

Undertake audits, as necessary.

Responsible formaintaining high standards of cleanliness including personal hygiene.

When necessary carryoutrelief cover for breaktimes, annual leave and sickness.

Maintainconfidentiality at all times.

Work together withPolicies and Procedures of NHS Portsmouth and the Department.

WFM- responsible for swiping/logging in at the start and finish of the shift.

Maintaining of department recordsrecords.

Deal with patient/customer comments and completerelevant paperwork

Support the pickingand packing catering assistants in the successful running of the

Follow approvedrecipes

Compliance withallergen regulations and Natashas Law

It is possible that onoccasion the postholder may be asked to work in other areas of

the facilitiesservice. This is not expected to be on a frequent or regular basis and

wouldonly take place after appropriate training and support was given.

About us

Equans working in Partnership with Portsmouth HospitalsUniversity NHS Trust.

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for ourpatients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commissionreport published 2020 and became a University Hospital.

We are ranked as the third in the country for research;embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuouslystrive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do.

The Trusts main hub is the QAH, starting life as a militaryhospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the southcoast. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist servicesto a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire.

The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; ourpatients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from awide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, butbecause it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and ourenthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleaguesand our community you will find a home at PHU.

In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributionsthat you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity,race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languagesspoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation andbeliefs.

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To bean integral part of the Food Service in Patient Feeding and Retail Catering,creating high standards of food from fresh ingredients, meeting the highexpectations of all stakeholders

ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

Provisionof a high-quality catering service in a Hospital/Healthcare setting.

KEY RESULT AREAS

Responsible for providinga high - quality catering service In line with local operational procedures andwork schedules.

Communicate informationrelating to food service to users both verbally and by telephone.

Organise own day to daywork tasks or activities.

Reporting details offaults and failures of equipment /fabric of the building to management.

Assist in the trainingof new or relief staff.

Report accidents, nearmisses or non-conformities to team leader or manager.

Undertake audits, as necessary.

Responsible formaintaining high standards of cleanliness including personal hygiene.

When necessary carryoutrelief cover for breaktimes, annual leave and sickness.

Maintainconfidentiality at all times.

Work together withPolicies and Procedures of NHS Portsmouth and the Department.

Demonstrate courteousbehaviour.

Workforce managementresponsible for swiping/logging in at the start and finish of the shift.

Assume responsibilityof the catering department in the absence of the Head Chef or Assistant HeadChef

W Provide data on foodservice, matters including quality assurance, wastage information and take the necessary actionto rectify problems.

Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work, e.g. patientsatisfaction.

Supportthe Retail Supervisoras required.

Ensuresafety regulations and safe working practices are being used.

Maintaining of departmental records.

Deal with patient/customer comments and completerelevant paperwork

Support the pickingand packing catering assistants in the successful running of the patient foodservice

Follow approvedrecipes

Compliance withallergen regulations and Natashas Law

It is possible that onoccasion the postholder may be asked to work in other areas of the facilitiesservice. This is not expected to be on a frequent or regular basis and wouldonly take place after appropriate training and support was given.

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

Thepostholder will be required to operate the following equipment.

Procedures as detailed in the CateringDepartment Operational

Procedures Manual.

Combinationoven

Highpressure steamer

Mixingmachine

Meatslicer

Boiling kettle

Dishwashing machine

Stove top

High speed oven

Thislist is not exhaustive but indicative of the equipment in use.

Systems

Follow SOPs (Working Instructions) toensure that the department is run in an efficient and safe manner

Completionof stores request forms

Completionof own timesheet, holiday sheets, sickness notes

Reportingof faulty equipment to the catering management

Completionof paperwork relevant to post

ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

This involves:-

The postholder will be expected tofollow catering services procedures in accordance with those set down in the CateringDepartment Procedures Manual and work schedules.

There will be regular supervision whilston duty however the postholder will work without direct supervision onoccasion.

Thepostholder can liaise with catering management at any time.

The postholder will be expected tosupport other areas of the catering department as required.

DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS

Thepostholder can liaise with catering management at any time.

Work schedules prepared by the managerbased on workload and the needs of the service.

The postholder can make decisions as tothe order of work at their own discretion to fit in with catering procedures,priorities and needs of the service.

MOST CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

Engaging and dealing with a wide rangeof people in a timely, efficient, and polite manner.

Lackof communication of essential information which could

affects the service.

Dealingwith multiple deliveries, which could involve heavy lifting.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

The postholder will be in contact with staffgroups and catering management on a regular basis either face to face or by telephone.

CPs will be expected to coach new staffon tasks further to the initial training carried out by the team leader/manager.

To respect and support peoples equality anddiversity.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Thepostholder must be suitably fit and able to undertake the physical duties ofthe post. The

postinvolves manual handling duties and constant movement and standing for durationof the shift e.g. twisting, stretching, bending, kneeling, lifting, pushing,and pulling.

Useand movement of catering equipment.

Physicalmovement of stores e.g. provisions.

Physical movement of waste e.g. manuallyremove household waste to disposal area.

Physicalmovement of catering trolleys and cages where applicable.

13.KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

PostHolder must have the following professional qualifications: -

NVQ2 in Professional Cookery or City & Guilds 706/2 plus 5 years experienceof working in the catering trade

NVQ3 Professional Cookery

Level3 Food Safety Certificate

Food Allergy and Intolerance Certificate

Postholder is required to

and Essential Skills.

Havethe ability to work as part of a team or on own initiative.

Havethe ability to follow instructions.

Abilityto respond constructively to unpredictable situations.

Becalm, focused, and able to cope with work under pressure.

Followingdepartmental training, the post holder is required to:

Havea working knowledge of procedures and equipment

relevant to post.

Operatemechanical and electrical equipment safely and

effectively.

Havea knowledge of Health & Safety Policies and work

procedures.

Havea knowledge of Food Safety Guidelines and Procedures.

Tocarry out their work effectively and safely.

Goodcustomer care skills.

Ableto work under pressure.

Abilityto be flexible and adaptable.

Job Description Attached.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• City and Guilds Level 2 in Professional Cookery 7062 or
• NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery
• Intermediate or Level 3 Food Safety
• HACCP
• City and Guilds Level 2 in Professional Cookery 7062 or
• NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery
• Intermediate or Level 3 Food Safety
• HACCP

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

Equans Working with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust