Cook

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a full-time Cook to join their Catering Team at the Freeman Hospital. The ideal candidate will have qualifications in food preparation and experience in NHS catering. Responsibilities include preparing meals for patients and managing hygiene standards. Ideal for those looking for a stable role with a better work-life balance. Work hours are 37.5 per week, including weekends.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Support for career development

Competitive pay

Qualifications

• Must be qualified or have equivalent experience in food preparation.
• Experience of NHS catering is advantageous.
• Willing to work towards a level 4 qualification.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook hot & cold foods for patients and staff.
• Ensure compliance with hygiene protocols and temperature controls.
• Work on a rotating schedule including weekends.

Skills

Experience in cooking methods

Food preparation

Capacity for handling special diets

Education

City & Guilds 706/2 or NVQ Level 3

Intermediate food hygiene qualification

Job description

Go back The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cook

The closing date is 21 September 2025

Do you work in the Hospitality Industry as a Chef and you are looking for a new challenge with better hours, no split shifts, better work life balance and paid enhancements for working weekends, then this could be the job for you, An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Cook/Chef 37.5 hours a week to work as part of the Catering Team based at the Freeman Hospital.

Knowledge and Experience with a broad range of cooking methods to include special diets would be an advantage. You must be qualified to City & Guilds 706/2 or NVQ Level 3 in food preparation or have equivalent experience and also have intermediate food hygiene qualification. Experience of NHS Catering would be an advantage. Willing to work to a level 4 qualification.

• Interview Date: 30th September 2025

37 hours 30 minutes/week - working a 3 week roster and shifts from 6am to 2pm and 10am to 6pm, 5 days over 7 working 2 weekends out of 3.

• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

You will work on a three week cycle working 2 weekends out of three, working a mix of shifts, early 6am to 2pm and late 10am to 6pm and must be Flexible to the needs of the Business. Duties include preparation and cooking of hot & cold foods for patients, staff, visitors, functions and nursery, you also must follow the hygiene within the kitchen to include temperature controls of all products, cleaning and other general duties.

We operate 365 days a year and you may be required to work over the Christmas Holidays if you are rostered in.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

• Ensuring the highest possible standard of food preparation and cooking.
• To comply with national nutritional policies and food hygiene standards.
• Providing food for patients, staff and the general public, as well as catering for special functions, buffet And preparation of special diets

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

• City & Guilds 706/2 or NVQ 3 (food preparation) or equivalent experience.
• Hazard analysis training (HACCP) as part of advanced food hygiene controls

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience across a broad band range of cooking methods
• Experience in Large scale Catering/ working with Dietetics
• Understanding of Trust Business
• Experience of working in the NHS kitchen

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

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust