Hospice Kitchen Lead - Nutritious Meals and Patient Care

St Elizabeth Hospice; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme (NHS pension transferb

Life Cover

Free Car Parking

Cycle to Work & Car Leasing Scheme

Health Service Discounts

Occupational Sick Pay

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich is seeking a passionate Chef to lead the day-to-day operations of our kitchen during allocated shifts. You will ensure high-quality, nutritious, and safe food production that supports patient wellbeing and visitor experiences.

Join a collaborative team and uphold food safety, service excellence, and compassionate care. Experience in healthcare or high-standard hospitality is preferred; Level 3 Food Hygiene and NVQ Level 2 Cookery are desirable qualifications.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as a Chef, ideally within a healthcare, care home, or high-standard hospitality environment.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene regulations (Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or the commitment to attain. NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery.
• Ability to adapt menus to meet specific nutritional or medical dietary needs.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and customer service skills.
• A compassionate, flexible approach to work, with a commitment to supporting the values of a local charity.

Responsibilities

• Kitchen Leadership - Lead the operations of the kitchen, guiding the catering team to ensure smooth, efficient daily service.
• High-Quality Food Production - Prepare, cook, and present nutritious, appealing meals tailored to the dietary requirements of patients, as well as comforting options for visitors and staff.
• Standards & Compliance - Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards across all food prep and storage areas.
• Customer Excellence - Ensure an outstanding dining experience for everyone, demonstrating empathy and responsiveness to patient and family feedback.
• Team Collaboration - Support the wider catering team, fostering a positive, flexible, and cohesive working environment.

Skills

Kitchen Leadership

High-Quality Food Production

Standards & Compliance

Customer Excellence

Team Collaboration

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery

Job description

St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich is seeking a passionate Chef to lead the day-to-day operations of our kitchen during allocated shifts. You will ensure high-quality, nutritious, and safe food production that supports patient wellbeing and visitor experiences.

Join a collaborative team and uphold food safety, service excellence, and compassionate care. Experience in healthcare or high-standard hospitality is preferred; Level 3 Food Hygiene and NVQ Level 2 Cookery are desirable qualifications.