Junior Cook / Commis Chef

Elysium Healthcare Limited; Bell Bar; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is looking for a Junior Cook or Commis Chef to join Rhodes Wood Hospital. In this role, you'll prepare meals for service users and support a dynamic kitchen team. Qualifications include a strong understanding of food safety and preparation techniques. This position offers an annual salary of £25,058, ample leave, and opportunities for career development in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Annual leave including birthday off

Career development and training

Access to wellbeing support

Life Assurance

Enhanced Maternity Package

Free/subsidised meals

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Knowledge of food preparation techniques.
• Understanding of food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Ensure hygiene and safety standards are maintained.
• Assist in planning menus considering dietary needs.
• Prepare meals to a consistently high standard.

Skills

Food preparation techniques

Menu planning and development

Food safety and sanitation standards

Nutrition principles and dietary needs

Kitchen equipment operation

Time management

Job description

Overview

Ready for a Junior Cook or Commis Chef role that lets you unleash your creativity? If so, join Rhodes Wood Hospital as a Junior Cook or Commis Chef and work alongside a dedicated team in a calm and supportive environment. You'll become a crucial part of the kitchen team, crafting daily meals for service users, staff, and visitors, while also catering for exciting events and special occasions—from World Food Day to festive celebrations like Christmas and Easter. This is your chance to infuse your own flair and keep things fresh and exciting. Your role goes beyond cooking. You'll assist in the smooth running of the kitchen, supporting the Head Chef and adhering to food safety protocols. You'll help plan and test new recipes to see if they're viable and within budget, receive and organise deliveries, and maintain a clean and safe kitchen environment. From preparing meals for everyday service to catering for events, you'll play a key role in ensuring quality and consistency. This is a hands‑on position with a great social aspect, giving you the chance to interact with people outside the kitchen regularly. Imagine job satisfaction, creativity, and a balanced work‑life combo—home in time for dinner every night and two days off a week.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the hygiene throughout the department, ensuring Elysium Healthcare's Corporate Health and Safety and Food Hygiene Policies are maintained.
• Ensure the smooth day‑to‑day running of the department.
• Responsible for ensuring all food resources are used in the most efficient way possible.
• Responsible for maintaining good storage procedures and stock rotation.
• Assist in planning for long and short term requirements of the department and changes required by the facility.
• Ensuring all food documentation is filled out correctly.
• Contribute to planning menu's taking into account special nutritional, dietary and ethnic needs.
• Participate in food costings through effective cost control procedures.
• Maintain good food storage procedures and stock rotation according to established procedures.
• Prepare and cook meals to a consistently high standard.
• Present and package food as required for distribution.
• Assist in food service when necessary.
• Co‑ordinate the production and distribution of food throughout the hospital.

Qualifications

• To be 18 years of age or over.
• Food preparation techniques (cutting, slicing, filleting, marinating, roasting, grilling, sautéing, baking, and steaming).
• Menu planning and development.
• Food safety and sanitation standards (proper storage, cross‑contamination prevention).
• Nutrition principles and dietary needs (allergies, intolerances, special diets).
• Kitchen equipment operation (ovens, grills, fryers, mixers, knives).
• Food safety level 2/3.
• Time management and multi‑station coordination.

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally. Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person's individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure
Join the team at Rhodes Wood Hospital providing care for children and young people aged 8-18 years with eating disorders who require residential care, working on tailored treatment programmes designed for the individual needs of each young person. There is also an on‑site Ofsted Registered school to support young people continue with their education while in hospital. Rhodes Wood Hospital is located on the outskirts of Hatfield, which is easily reachable by car.

What You'll Get

• Annual base salary of £25,058.
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals.
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely‑Vate; your one‑stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub.
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work‑life balance.
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts.
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind.
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be.
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time.
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future.
• Free/subsidised meals and onsite/local free parking.