Head Chef

Sue Ryder; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice seeks a Head Chef to manage kitchen operations, leading a team to provide quality meals to patients and staff. This role requires expertise in catering, specifically for dietary needs, and offers competitive pay with additional benefits. Join the team to make a difference during challenging times.

Benefits

Enhanced pay for unsociable hours

Company pension scheme

27 days holiday, rising to 33 with length of service

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Enhanced sick pay

Employee Networks for support and inclusion

10% staff discount at Sue Ryder shop

Structured induction programme

Qualifications

• Professional experience in a hospice or health and social care environment.
• Experience in catering for people with fortified diets and food-related contraindications.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the kitchen including a team of chefs and volunteers.
• Menu development and stocking within a set budget.
• Ensure food safety and sanitation compliance.

Skills

Communication

Catering for dietary needs

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene

City and Guilds 706/707 1&2 or 7100 or NVQ 3 in general catering/equivalent

Tools

COSHH regulations

Health & Safety regulations

HACCP

Job description

Maintenance & Catering,Health & Social Care

£12.63 - 13.67 per hour (plus enhancements and competitive benefits)

Employment Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

Ref No:

JM10775JUN25

Closing Date:

17/06/2025

Head Chef
Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice
Grove Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AE
37.5 Hours Per Week
£12.63 - 13.67 per hour (plus enhancements and competitive benefits)

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone.

We are there when it matters.

About Us

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice is in the heart of Headingley, Leeds. We provide expert palliative care at a time when people need this the most. We support you when you are living with a life-limiting condition, and also help your loved ones and family.

We support people aged 18 and over who are living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, heart failure and lung disease by combining specialist medical care for managing pain and other symptoms with other emotional, practical and spiritual support.

We are able to provide care in our inpatient unit and our CNS team are on hand to visit people and provide care for people in their own home.

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our catering team as the Head Chef. You will be responsible for managing all aspects of the kitchen including leading a team of chefs, catering assistants and volunteers. Further duties include menu development, managing all food safety and cleaning requirements and ordering stock to an agreed budget. We pride ourselves on our amazing catering team which provide high quality meals to patients, families, staff and visitors to the hospice.

Being a chef in a Hospice is about more than preparing meals. Food can be a source of joy, even in difficult times. A chef in our hospice has the privilege of creating meals that patients will enjoy, rekindling memories of favourite dishes or flavours associated with happy moments. This is an opportunity to have a positive impact on our patient’s physical, emotional, and even social well-being using your expert skills in the kitchen.

Working Hours: 37.5 Hours per week (08:00 - 18:30) including some weekends.

About you

This is a busy role that requires a high level of expertise. You will be able to communicate and interact with all staff groups, patients and their families. You will be able to remain calm under pressure.

Our ideal candidate will have similar professional experience in a hospice or health and social care environment (Hosptal, Care Home, Nursing Home, Supported Living etc) . Due to the nature of this role, experience of catering for people with dietary needs such as fortified diets, food related contraindications and swallowing difficulties is highly desirable.

You will have a passion for and a dedication to providing a personalised and compassionate service to people when they need it most.

Experience and qualifications required:

•Level 3 Food Hygiene or a willing to work towards.
•City and Guilds 706/707 1&2 or 7100 or NVQ 3 in general catering/equivalent - Essential
•Previous experience of managing kitchens
•Knowledge of regulation, e.g. COSSH, Health & Safety, HACCP

Benefits

• Enhanced pay for unsociable hours
• Company pension scheme
• 27 days holiday - rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Employee Networks - LGBTQ+, Ethnic Diversity and Equality, People with Disabilities, and Women and Non-Binary Individuals
• Staff discount of 10% on new goods online at shop.sueryder.org
• Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

For more of our employee benefits please visit our website.

https://www.sueryder.org/jobs/why-work-for-sue-ryder

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and continue to make Sue Ryder a great place to work, and attract and recruit the best, most diverse workforce possible. We are particularly interested in increasing applications from the global majority, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities as they are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

Please let us know if you have any feedback to make our recruitment processes more accessible and inclusive or if you require any adjustments made to your application or interview process by emailing [e-mail]

https://www.sueryder.org/jobs/equity-diversity-inclusion

If you want more than just a job, we want you.

Join the team and be there when it matters.