Diet Chef

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bradford; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Diet Chef to prepare, cook and present nutritious meals for patients, with attention to dietary requirements and hygiene standards. You will work with dietitians and ward staff to ensure accurate patient meals and dietary records.

The role involves supervising the kitchen team, maintaining HACCP compliance, and contributing to menu development within Trust policies.

Qualifications

• Experience as a chef in a busy environment.
• Experience delivering a good quality service to patients.
• Experience creating menus for special dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Comply with Trust policies and procedures.
• Run kitchen in line with HACCP plan.
• Complete daily records and dietary documentation.
• Prepare, cook and present therapeutic diets as prescribed.
• Meet patient dietary needs and communicate with ward teams.
• Direct and supervise kitchen staff and conduct appraisals.

Skills

Staff training

Documentation

Knife skills

Communication

Team work

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ Level 3

Level 3 Food Safety

Level 4 Food Safety

Health & Safety qualifications

COSHH knowledge

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Diet Chef

The closing date is 29 October 2026

Shortlisting to take place in the week following closing date: commencing 30.10.26

Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 02.11.26

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is unable to provide sponsorship for this role

The post holder will have overall responsibility for preparing, cooking and presenting high quality, nutritious, safe food for including for patients with specific dietary requirements adhering to all hygiene legislation, HACCP principles and Trust policies. This will include looking for ways to develop specialist menus in order to continuously improve the service.

They must build good working relationships with Dietitians, Ward staff and Ward Hospitality Supervisors to ensure the smooth running of the service.

They will be responsible for supervising staff working within the main kitchen

Main duties of the job

The post holder should ensure all policies, procedures and codes of practise relating to Food Safety,Hygiene,Health &Safety and COSHH are adhered to and will ensure that the kitchen is run in line with the HACCP plan

Ensure that the kitchen is run at all times in line with the HACCP plan monitoring that all paperwork required within this and the food hygiene policy are completed by them and the team

Complete all documentation required within the kitchen accurately and in a timely manner. Such as daily recording of special diets, and food hygiene monitoring documents.

Prepare, cook & present food for patients, using high level food preparation skills, providing input to the redesign of menus when reviewed. The postholder must also be able to prepare adhoc and specific therapeutic diets, where exact requirements prescribed by dieticians must be followed and ensure that this is to a high quality standard at all times.

Meet with patients and their carers on request to fully understand specific dietary requirements and ensure that the patient can be offered meals that are suitable for their needs.

Work closely and effectively with other members of the catering team, including ward hospitality, communicating well to ensure patients receive the correct meal to meet their dietary requirements

About us

Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:

• We are one team

We're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

Job responsibilities

Comply with all Trust policies and procedures.

The post holder should ensure all policies, procedures and codes of practise relating to Food Safety,Hygiene,Health &Safety and COSHH are adhered to and will ensure that the kitchen is run in line with the HACCP plan

Ensure that the kitchen is run at all times in line with the HACCP plan monitoring that all paperwork required within this and the food hygiene policy are completed by them and the team

Complete all documentation required within the kitchen accurately and in a timely manner. Such as daily recording of special diets, and food hygiene monitoring documents.

Prepare, cook & present food for patients, using high level food preparation skills, providing input to the redesign of menus when reviewed. The postholder must also be able to prepare adhoc and specific therapeutic diets, where exact requirements prescribed by dieticians must be followed and ensure that this is to a high quality standard at all times.

Meet with patients and their carers on request to fully understand specific dietary requirements and ensure that the patient can be offered meals that are suitable for their needs.

Work closely and effectively with other members of the catering team, including ward hospitality, communicating well to ensure patients receive the correct meal to meet their dietary requirements

On a day to day basis have responsibility for directing and supervising the work of all staff within the kitchen

Undertake individual appraisals and agree PDP for catering staff working in the kitchen

To ensure that the kitchen is maintained in a clean and tidy state at all times,adopting clean as you work routines,ensuring that all cleaning standardsand frequencies are met,and cleaning schedules completed by the appropriate person

Report all maintenance defects immediately to the Senior Supervisor- Catering

Maintain a professional image by being polite , helpful and courteous at all times to other employees,colleagues,patients and visitors throughout the Trust

To deal and appropriately handle any complaints received from patients with regard to food provided by the kitchen, by discussing with the patient or carer, reviewing records and escalating to Senior Supervisor as appropriate

To work in harmony with catering staff and other departments within the Trust to ensure optimum conditions are provided for the delivery of the patient catering service.

Any other duties commensurate with this position as directed by the Senior Supervisor or Catering management team.

8. CMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

On a daily basis the postholder will be expected to work closely with the ward hospitality team, dieticians, members of ward teams and the Catering Management team.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working as a chef within a busy environment.
• Experience of working with patients to deliver a good quality service and dealing with feedback/ complaints as necessary
• Experience of providing menus for people/ Patients with special, sometimes complex, dietary requirements
• Experience of people management and supervising staff

Skills

• Good written skills, able to complete all documentation relating to catering in a timely manner
• Ability to instruct and train catering staff and provide technical advice
• Possess high level food preparation skills eg knife skills and accurate use of fine tools
• Have the skill to communicate clearly with staff , patients and management in a calm and effective manner
• Must be organised and able to plan daily activities, meet mealtime deadlines and reorganise menus at short notice
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative at times and also be able to work as part of a team
• Computer literate in Word, Excel and Outlook

Knowledge

• Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
• Willingness to undertake all mandatory and essential training
• Knowledge of HACCP principles and general food hygiene practices
• Knowledge of COSHH principles
• Knowledge of customer care/relations
• Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of preparing therapeutic diets

Qualifications

• City and Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ level 3 or equivalent and knowledge of special diets through training and experience
• Intermediate Level 3 food Safety certificate
• Health and Safety qualifications
• Advanced Level 4 food safety certificate

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

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust