Cook

St Luke's Hospice; Thurrock; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

St Luke's Hospice in Thurrock is seeking a Cook to ensure excellent catering for patients, staff and visitors. You will join the opening team for the Seasons at St. Luke’s Bistro, contributing to a fresh, community-focused dining concept.

The role involves preparing meals, adapting dishes for dietary needs, maintaining high hygiene standards, and collaborating with clinical teams. Salary ranges £25,200–£30,100 with permanent contract and 7:30am–3:30pm shifts across a 7-day operation.

Qualifications

• Experience in commercial, healthcare or catering environments.
• Practical cooking skills and ability to produce high standards.
• Ability to follow safety and hygiene policies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook meals according to menus, recipes and portion specs.
• Adapt meals for dietary needs and allergies with guidance from clinical teams.
• Store, label, and rotate food to maintain freshness and reduce waste.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen per regulations.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and report maintenance issues.
• Assist with stock ordering and record-keeping to control costs.
• Collaborate with clinical and domestic teams to coordinate meals.
• Follow health and safety, confidentiality and infection control policies.

Skills

Food preparation

Food hygiene

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene in Catering

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a Cook to ensure excellent catering for patients, staff and visitors.

In addition, successful applicants will join the opening team for a new Bistro 'Seasons @St. Luke’s by AnuragFoodStory' opening in Summer 2026. The bistro will be welcoming and modern; reimagining how food can support wellbeing in a care setting, whilst opening doors for the local community to enjoy excellent food in beautiful surroundings. The Hospice is inviting hospitality professionals at all stages of their careers - from entry level to experienced to be part of the project. The role offers the opportunity to: Work alongside a BBC MasterChef UK finalist and published author learn, develop and grow hospitality and catering skills be part of a new and innovative hospitality concept be part of a team making a tangible difference in the community

In this role you will:

• Prepare and cook meals according to menus, recipes and portion specifications ensuring consistency and presentation standards are met.

• Adapt meals to meet individual dietary needs, allergies and cultural preferences, following guidance from dietetic or clinical teams where required.

• Ensure all food is stored, labelled and rotated correctly to maintain freshness and minimise waste.

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen, complying with Food Hygiene Regulations and internal policies.

• Operate kitchen equipment safely and report any maintenance or safety issues promptly.

• Support menu planning and contribute ideas for seasonal and cost-effective dishes that meet nutritional and budgetary requirements.

• Assist with stock ordering, deliveries and accurate record keeping to control food costs.

• Work collaboratively with clinical and domestic teams to coordinate meal times and special requests.

• Follow all organisational policies including health and safety, confidentiality and infection control procedures.

The successful candidate will:

• Have previous experience working in a commercial, healthcare or catering environment.

• Hold a recognised food hygiene qualification (Level 2 Food Safety in Catering or equivalent) or be willing to obtain one.

• Demonstrate practical cooking skills, attention to detail and the ability to produce food consistently to a high standard.

• Be organised, able to follow instructions and work effectively under time pressures.

• Have good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Be flexible with working patterns, including occasional early starts, evenings or weekends as required by service needs.

• Be able to perform manual handling tasks and stand for extended periods; reasonable adjustments can be considered.

Salary: £25,200 - £30,100 per annum (depending on experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Shifts are typically 7:30am-3:30pm, covering a 7 day operation.

Location: Thurrock Hospice

Right to work
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor work permits or visas.

Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from candidates who are under represented in our workforce. Adjustments can be made to support applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.