Chef – West Midlands Hospice

Marie Curie UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days leave + 8 public holidays (pro

Contributory Pension Scheme

Continued Professional development

Industry leading training

Job summary

Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice in Solihull is seeking a skilled Chef to join the Facilities team. You will prepare nutritious meals for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors while upholding food safety and hygiene standards.

The role requires teamwork, adaptability and a caring approach. You will assist the Head Chef with supervising Catering Assistants, staff rotas, recruitment, and supplier management.

Qualifications

• City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2, or Level 2 NVQ in Food Production and Cooking (or equivalent)
• Basic food hygiene certificate
• Relevant catering experience
• Experience supervising staff in the absence of head chef
• High levels of Health and Safety awareness

Responsibilities

• Prepare high-quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors.
• Assist Head Chef in supervising Catering Assistants and staff rotas.
• Help recruit junior team members and manage supplier selection and ordering processes.

Job description

Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice, Solihull

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they are likely to die from.

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives. We want a different society than the one we live in now. Our mission for the next five years is to close the gap in the number of people missing out on what they need at the end-of-life.

Job Description

Your role in our mission

We are looking for a skilled Chef to join our Facilities team at Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice. In this rewarding role, you will prepare high-quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors, while upholding excellent standards of food safety, hygiene and presentation.

You will bring strong culinary expertise, the ability to design and deliver varied menus, and a commitment to excellent customer service. We are looking for someone who works well within a team, adapts easily to changing demands, and demonstrates a genuinely caring approach.

You will also assist the Head Chef in supervision of Catering Assistants, assist with staff rotas, help recruit junior team members, and manage supplier selection and ordering processes.

If you are passionate about creating great food and want to make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients, families and colleagues, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Contract Type:

Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Working Pattern:

• Shift patterns: 11:00 am to 7:00pm
• Working on a rota basis, five days per week, Monday to Sunday, including Bank Holidays

Salary:

• Agenda for Change Band 3: £25,760 to £27,476 per annum
• Enhanced rates of pay apply for hours worked on Sundays and Bank Holidays, with an additional payment of up to 69% of the basic hourly rate, in accordance with Marie Curie terms and conditions

Location:

• Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice, Solihull

Essential Criteria:

• City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2, or Level 2 NVQ in Food Production and Cooking (or equivalent qualification)
• Basic food hygiene certificate
• Relevant catering experience
• Experience supervising staff in the absence of head chef
• High levels of Health and Safety awareness

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience working within a healthcare environment
• NVQ Level 3 qualification, or willing to work towards it
• Intermediate food handling certificate

What's in it for you

• Annual leave allowance 27 days plus 8 public holidays (pro-rated)
• Competitive Policy for parental/sick Leave
• Marie Curie Contributary Pension Scheme
• Continuous Professional development (Marie Curie supports and encourages personal and professional development)
• Industry leading training programmes

Marie Curie Benefits Package:

• Defined contribution schemes for Pension(the charity will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Support with eye care costs (terms apply)
• Discounts via the Benefit Hub Scheme
• 15% discount in Marie Curie shops
• Entitled to Marie Curie Blue Light Card
• Life assurance

Application Process

• Closing date for applications: 17 September 2026

For more information or an informal chat please contact [e-mail]

Additional Information

This role will be subject to receiving an enhanced DBS criminal record check.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

Agencies need not apply.

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone - staff and volunteers alike - supportive, inclusive and rewarding. We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings. We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at [e-mail].

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.