Cook Retail

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a Cook Retail to prepare, cook and present high-quality meals for our restaurant and inpatient diets. You will support the food service and assist with events for Trust Hospitality, following HACCP and safety protocols.

You will work in a large-volume catering environment, maintain documentation, monitor wastage and ensure equipment and stock are secure, with opportunities to contribute to service improvements and sustainability

Qualifications

• Level 2 Food Safety Management.
• City & Guilds 706/1 or NVQ 3 equivalent.
• Health & Safety Certificate.
• Full COSHH awareness.
• Experience working in a large volume catering environment.
• Experience working with the general public.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and present meals for restaurant and inpatient therapeutic diets.
• Assist with food service in the restaurant.
• Prepare foods for Trust Hospitality and other events.
• Complete HACCP documentation for storage, preparation and presentation.
• Observe safe, correct use and care of equipment and report defects.
• Complete documentation to manage and monitor production and wastage levels.
• Ensure kitchen equipment and stock are kept secure, reporting breaches.
• Promote sustainable products and services.
• Participate in reviews to improve quality and efficiency.
• Prepare meals including special diets in accordance with menus and recipes.

Skills

Experience in large volume catering

Experience with the general public

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Management

City & Guilds 706/1 or NVQ 3 equivalent

Health & Safety Certificate

Full COSHH awareness

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Cook Retail

The closing date is 10 November 2026

To prepare, cook and present the highest quality food for the restaurant and in‑patient therapeutic diets

Assist with the food service in the restaurant where appropriate.

Prepare foods for Trust Hospitality and other special events

Complete all documentation as detailed in the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) for all stages of storage, preparation and presentation.

Observe safe, correct use and care of equipment and report any defects.

Complete documentation to manage and monitor production and wastage levels

Ensure that the kitchen equipment, stock and associated areas are kept secure at all times, reporting any breaches to your line manager

Main duties of the job

Assist in the promotion and use of sustainable products

To participate fully in the review and development of services to improve both quality and efficiency

Prepare and cook meals, including special diets in accordance with agreed menus, standard recipes and presentation methods.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Job responsibilities

For more information on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached Job Description.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a high number of applications be received. Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role. Whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate Visa, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires.

Qualifications

• Level 2 Food Safety Management
• City & Guilds 706/1 or NVQ 3 equivalent
• Health & Safety Certificate
• Full COSHH awareness

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of working in a large volume catering environment
• Experience of working with the general public

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

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£25,272 a yearPer Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)