Head Cook

NHS National Services Scotland; Creagorry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Scotland is looking for a dedicated Head Cook for a permanent position at Uist & Barra Hospital. This role involves managing kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food hygiene regulations, and producing meals for patients and staff. Given the diverse needs of the service, candidates should have experience in culinary and supervisory roles.

Benefits

Recruitment & Retention Premium

Enhanced payments for weekend work

Generous annual leave and public holiday entitlements

Qualifications

• Experience in commercial/industrial kitchen setting.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food hygiene regulations required.
• Flexible shift pattern required, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the kitchen.
• Supervise staff in food preparation and service.
• Ensure high quality meals for patients and external customers.

Skills

Food Hygiene Regulations

Food Preparation

Supervisory Skills

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2

Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate

Allergen Awareness Certificate

Job description

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Head Cook

Band 4 £30,353 - £33,016 (pro rata)

Plus Distant Islands Allowance of £1,406 (pro rata)

Recruitment and Retention Premium £2730

35 hours per week

Permanent post

A rare and exciting opportunity has become available for a Head Cook to join our existing team at the Uist & Barra Hospital. Duties will include the day to day running of the department and producing / serving of high quality meals for patients, staff and external customers. You will also be required to supervise all operational aspects of the kitchen and associated areas inc. deliveries / preparation / storage rooms, wash up, including supervision of staff working in these areas.

For this lead role, experience within a commercial/industrial background would be an advantage but not necessary, Hospitality experience would also be advantageous. You would be expected to have comprehensive knowledge of food hygiene regulations and have good all round food preparation, culinary & supervisory skills in order to carry out this job successfully.

Candidates require City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 certificate or SVQ professional cookery level 7 (or similar, eg Broad Based Craft: Level 1 and 2). An Intermediate food hygiene certificate is also required, although candidates showing willingness to gain certificate whilst in post would be considered. An allergen awareness certificate is also required (this can be done FREE and online with Food Standards Scotland).

If you have a positive and flexible approach with the above skills and want to be part of the Catering Team then we would like to hear from you. Candidates should expect to work a flexible shift pattern that will include weekends.

Additional benefits of working for NHS Western Isles

Excellent rates of pay (up to £16.46 per hour)

Recruitment & Retention Premium (£52.50 per week)

• Enhanced payments for weekend working (up to £23.70 per hour Saturday / up to £30.96 per hour Sunday)
• Potential to earn £32,688 before any weekend enhancements/overtime (35hr week)
• Generous annual leave and public holiday entitlements
• Earliest start 7.30am / Latest finish 7.30pm
• Working 5 days from 7

For further information or an informal discussion regarding the post please contact George Maciver, Catering Services Manager, Western Isles Hospital Tel: [phone] or [e-mail] successful applicant will be required to register with the PVG Scheme (Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme). This post is not eligible for relocation expenses. All NHS Western Isles vacancies appear on the NHS Scotland website: https://apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk/ along with a job description. Any further queries please contact Tel: [phone]

All NHS Western Isles vacancies appear on the NHS Scotland website: apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk, along with a job description.

Tha beàrnan-obrach NHS Eilean Siar uile gu léir a' nochdadh air làrach-lìn NHS na h-Alba https://apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk/, còmhla ri dealbh-obrach.

Closing Date 27th June 2025