Chef | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Bournemouth is seeking a qualified Chef to join the Catering team. The role involves ensuring meal preparation and service meet professional standards, alongside collaboration within the team. Experience in catering and a commitment to service excellence are essential. The position offers a generous salary, enhanced pay for unsocial hours, and multiple employee benefits including NHS discounts and training opportunities.

Benefits

Generous Starting Salary

Enhanced Pay for unsocial hours

Paid training

Free uniform

27 days paid holiday

Increased holiday allowance after 5 and 10 years

NHS Pension Scheme enrollment

Salary sacrifice schemes

Staff discounts at retail outlets

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering environment is essential.
• Flexible to work various locations and hours as required.
• Driving license is advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve meals to the required standards.
• Liaise with Food Production Manager regarding meal quality.
• Follow recipes accurately to ensure meal consistency.

Skills

Teamwork

Catering experience

Reliable and hardworking

Education

Professional qualification standard COSHH

Equivalent to City & Guilds 706 1/2 or NVQ

Job description

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a friendly, hardworking, reliable & qualified Chef to work within the Catering team to provide freshly cooked food to our patients and staff. The team is responsible for providing an efficient, high quality, dedicated food and beverage service, operating in compliance with corporate and local policies and procedures.

Experience of working in a similar environment and the professional qualification standard COSHH and allergen training (or willingness to work towards it) are required. But just as important are the commitment to provide a first class service and a belief in teamwork.

A driving licence would be an advantage but is not essential, this position has to cover 7 days and you will work any 5 days.

What working for us will provide:

• Generous Starting Salary
• Enhanced Pay for unsocial hours worked (Saturday, Sunday).
• No split shifts
• Paid training
• Free uniform
• 27 days paid holiday (pro rata for part time) plus bank holidays
• Increased holiday allowance after 5 and 10 years’ service
• Enrolment in the NHS Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities – including childcare vouchers, car lease and cycle scheme, home technology equipment
• Staff Rates on Items in the Catering Departments retail outlets.
• NHS discounts to save on your shopping, gym membership and more

Base - Bournemouth Hospital

Interview Date - Friday 28th November 2025

Your tasks could include:

• Ensure the preparation, cooking and service of meals for patients and staff is to the standard of City & Guilds 706 1/2 or NVQ equivalent.
• Liaise effectively with Food Production Manager on meal quality, and inform all staff about any menu changes.
• Follow recipes accurately, so as to ensure correct cooking times, cooking methods and number of portions produced.
• It may be necessary for you to work in differing sections of the Catering Department to meet service needs. This would usually be duties appropriate to band level.

You must be flexible to work locations and hours and to meeting the needs of our customers and patients whilst being supportive of the large food service operation at the UHD.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

This advert closes on Monday 17 Nov 2025