Head Chef

Whittington Health NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in London is seeking a Catering Services Supervisor to oversee food preparation for staff, patients, and visitors. The role involves ensuring compliance with food safety standards and leading a team to provide high-quality meals. Ideal candidates should have experience in catering, strong leadership skills, and knowledge of food safety regulations. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to patient care in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working within a Catering environment.
• Understanding of Basic Food Hygiene principles.
• Knowledge of food hygiene regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee menu planning and food preparation.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards.
• Lead and train kitchen staff.

Skills

Ability to work unsupervised

Good communication both verbal and written

Ability to follow instructions

Ability to work within set deadlines

Ability to coordinate multiple tasks

Previous customer care training

Understanding of good customer service

Education

Basic Food Hygiene Certification

Health and Safety training

Job description

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To work, as part of a team in the provision of a Catering Service to Staff, Visitors and Patients of the Whittington Hospital, ensuring that the service provided is a customer focused quality service. The role is to oversee the preparation and cooking of nutritionally balanced meals to the highest standards for a diverse customer including staff, patients, and visitors. As a key player in the busy restaurant, you’ll lead by example, ensuring impeccable food quality, safety, and presentation. Your role will involve preparing breakfast and lunch menus, managing a live cooking environment, and inspiring your team to excel.

Main duties of the job

• Preparing, cooking and presenting of all food to a consistent high standard
• To liaise with the Restaurant Manager, and Restaurant Supervisor to ensure the food is always to the high standard in presentation and portion controls.
• Preparation and cooking of modified diets if required.
• To ensure all food is displayed well and the correct meal offer is always available throughout service.
• To lead and assist with the meal service provision and associated duties ensuring mealtimes are adhered to.
• To have a scheduled workplan within of kitchen and to adjust own working patterns to meet the demands of the business where necessary.
• Involvement with planning and costings of menus providing information on nutrition, allergen and healthy diet options.
• To manage food safety across and to ensure all staff are following the correct food hygiene procedures.

Working for our organisation

We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.

Our mission
Helping local people live longer, healthier lives.

Our vision
Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.

Our goals
We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

• To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
• To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
• To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
• To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
• To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will oversee menu planning, ordering, costing, and stock management. It is crucial to maintain compliance with Health and Hygiene regulations and Food Safety procedures. Accurate record-keeping is essential for internal and external audits.

·Collaboration within the team is key, and you should be comfortable working calmly in a fast-paced environment.

·Understanding cooking techniques, temperatures, allergens, consistency and food texture is essential. Additionally, you will contribute creative and appealing ideas for our extensive menus.

·Observing correct and safe procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

·To maintain all ‘due-diligence’ processes relating to cook-chill cooking procedures as stated in the Trust food safety policy.

·Ensure all food stored in fridges/freezers have correct labelling and are properly stored and rotated.

·Ensuring economical and correct use of all materials and equipment.

·Ensuring the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness is always maintained.

·Covering for another Chef’s as and when required.

·Assure a high level of staff morale and motivation by personal leadership, communication and appropriate procedures

·Help deal with customers feed-back and complaints.

·Maintaining a tidy place of work including undertaking light cleaning duties.

·Always maintaining neat appearance consistent with the catering dress code.

·To any mechanical or safety defects and need for repairs to the supervisor for immediate action.

·To attend training courses where necessary.

·To be able to work flexibly as and when required.

·Participation in the department’s appraisal scheme.

·Always promote the service and reputation of the department.

·Full awareness of all dietary requirements.

·Any other duties commensurate with the grade for the efficient running of the department.

·Safe working practices in the retail kitchen in accordance with good catering practice and provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

·To report any accident immediately as per the Accident Procedurein accordance with Trust policy and Incident Reporting Form.

·Adhere to departmental operational standards and procedures.

·Follow and adhere to the Trust Values and Behaviour.

·To observe and where necessary, follow all Fire Precautions as laid out within the general hospital guidelines.

Person specification

Skills

• Ability to work unsupervised
• Good communicator both verbal and written
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to work within set deadlines
• Ability to co-ordinate multiple tasks
• Previous customer care training
• Understanding of what constitutes good customer service

Knowledge

• To be proactive and organized in day-day department / service operations
• Knowledge of food hygiene regulations
• Good customer care
• Knowledge of how NHS operates
• Knowledge of hospital Catering Services
• Health and Safety at Work

Previous Experience

• Previous experience working within a Catering environment
• Understanding of Basic Food Hygiene principles, with the ability to attain Basic Food Hygiene Certification
• NHS experience

Qualifications

• Health and Safety training

Personal Qualities

• Flexibility
• Integrity and discretion
• Organised and methodical in approach to work
• Good communication Skills
• Calm under pressure
• Team worker & leader
• Creative
• Outgoing, friendly personality

Any other factors relating to the post

• Ability to build up good relationships with staff at all levels, especially internal customers

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with theLondon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.