Junior Cook / Commis Chef

Elysium Healthcare; England; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Hertfordshire is looking for a Junior Cook or Commis Chef to manage meal preparation for patients and staff. You'll be essential in ensuring food safety standards, planning menus, and supporting kitchen operations. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have experience in food preparation and safety protocols. The role also promises a comprehensive benefits package, including an annual salary of £25,058, training, and growth opportunities within the organization.

Benefits

Annual base salary of £25,058

33 days annual leave

Career development and training

Wellbeing support and activities

Access to exclusive offers through Blue Light Card

Life Assurance

Instant access to earned wages through Stream

Enhanced Maternity Package

Pension contribution

Free/subsidised meals

Onsite/local free parking

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or over.
• Experience in food preparation techniques.
• Understanding of nutrition principles and dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure hygiene and smooth running of the kitchen.
• Contribute to menu planning and food costings.
• Assist in food service when necessary.

Skills

Food preparation techniques

Menu planning and development

Food safety and sanitation standards

Time management

Multi station coordination

Education

Food Safety Level 2/3

Job description

This role as a Junior Cook or Commis Chef at Rhodes Wood Hospital in Hertfordshire offers the opportunity to showcase your culinary creativity in a supportive and calm environment. You'll be responsible for preparing meals for service users, staff, and visitors, as well as catering for special events. The role requires a range of food preparation skills, menu planning, and adherence to food safety protocols.

Main duties of the job

As a Junior Cook or Commis Chef, you'll be responsible for the hygiene and smooth running of the kitchen, ensuring efficient use of resources and maintaining good storage procedures. You'll contribute to menu planning, food costings, and presentation, while also assisting in food service when necessary. The role requires a strong understanding of food preparation techniques, menu development, food safety, and nutrition principles to cater to the diverse dietary needs of the individuals served.

About us

Elysium Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, with a network of over 90 facilities across England and Wales. They offer a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for professional development to support the wellbeing and growth of their employees.

Job responsibilities

Ready for a Junior Cook or Commis Chef role that lets you unleash your creativity? If so, join Rhodes Wood Hospitalas 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.

As aJunior Cook or Commis Chefyou will be:

• 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.

To be successful in this role, you'll need:

• 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)
• Food safety level 2/3
• Time management and multi station coordination

Where you will be working:

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:

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• 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

About your next employer:

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

• To be successful in this role, you'll need to be 18 years of age or over and have experience in food preparation techniques, menu planning, food safety and sanitation standards, nutrition principles, and kitchen equipment operation. A Food Safety Level 2/3 qualification is also required.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.