Patient Catering Supervisor

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Chelmsford is seeking a Patient Catering Supervisor to oversee daily meal services for patients. Responsibilities include supervising staff, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and maintaining food hygiene protocols. The ideal candidate will possess food hygiene certification and experience in catering supervision. This role is demanding with long periods of standing and walking, but essential for patient care. Salary is £24,937 per year, pro rata for part-time work.

Qualifications

• Basic Level 2 Food Hygiene certification required.
• Experience in a catering department or chill room is necessary.
• Proven track record of supervising a team.

Responsibilities

• Supervise patient catering delivery and maintain food hygiene standards.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety procedures.
• Manage staffing rosters and supervise chill-room and restaurant staff.

Skills

People supervision

Food hygiene compliance

Health and safety adherence

Flexibility in catering services

Education

Basic Level 2 Food Hygiene

Basic Health & Safety

Job description

Patient Catering Supervisor

Closing date: 08 December 2025

Join our department providing all meals to patients on a daily basis while working alongside nursing staff to ensure patients receive the correct dietary needs. The role involves supervising a large team, long periods of walking and standing, managing staffing rosters, working on wards as required, and occasionally facing stressful circumstances.

We ensure all catering staff comply with uniform policy, provide courteous service and carry out duties in accordance with Health and Safety procedures.

Main duties of the job

• Hands‑on supervision to maintain appropriate staffing levels and skill mix in patient catering areas, ensuring a cost‑effective, high‑quality service.
• Flexibility to respond to business, customer or management needs, including supervision of chill‑room and restaurant staff.
• Ensure food presentation meets agreed standards set by the Patient Catering Manager.
• Supervise patient catering delivery to guarantee punctuality and timely collection of dishes.
• Maintain food hygiene, health and safety and statutory legislation compliance at all times, retaining all required records.
• Implement and monitor cleaning schedules for daily and scheduled cleaning of equipment in zonal, ward and department kitchens, including consumables replenishment.
• Maintain cleaning and temperature records to demonstrate compliance.
• Rotate stock in beverage bays, ward kitchens, zonal kitchens and department kitchens; remove out‑of‑date food daily.
• Ensure staff take only designated breaks.
• Follow correct procedures for cleaning machinery and adhere to cleaning schedules.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, improve the health and well‑being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences to become the best we can be, recruiting the finest and retaining specialist staff by offering more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

• Basic Level 2 Food Hygiene, Basic Health & Safety
• Experience working within a catering department or chill room
• Proven track record in people supervision

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This position is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to assess any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 a year (Pro Rata for Part Time)

For more details on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached job description.

We look forward to your application!