Retail Catering Chef (Epsom)

Transformation Unit; Epsom; Remote; GBP 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

The chef role at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is responsible for the smooth operation of food production, presentation and service in the hospital catering outlets. You will plan menus, ensure nutritious, appealing meals, and maintain compliance with food safety standards while controlling costs.

Role emphasizes knowledge of allergens, strong numeracy for stock control, and professional interaction with patients and staff. This is not part of Agenda for Change terms.

Qualifications

• Strong level of spoken and written English and Maths.
• Intermediate knowledge level of Microsoft Office.
• Level 3 Food Safety or working towards.

Responsibilities

• Plan and write menus including theme days and special offers; ensure nutritional and appetising food meeting hospital standards.
• Attend Food Safety and Allergens training to comply with Natasha’s Law requirements.
• Ensure safe food preparation and storage in line with HACCP and COSHH; manage waste and sanitation.

Skills

English & Maths

Allergen awareness

Food safety

Education

Level 3 Food Safety

Microsoft Office (intermediate)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Employer Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Epsom Hospital Town Epsom Salary £15.66 - £16.54 per hour including HCAS Salary period Hourly Closing 02/11/2026 23:59

Grade B LLW-Non AfC

At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do, by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this and we welcome applicants who share our values.

Job overview

The chef role has overall responsibility for smooth operation of food production, presentation and service while maximising customers and patients appeal and exceeding Trusts, patients and customers’ expectations in the restaurant and food outlets at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

This role is expected to ensure that all policies and procedures are strictly adhered to in the day-to-day operation of food service to all customers and patients and to ensure that a high quality, food safety and cost-effective service are achieved at all times.

*** Please note this opportunity is NOT Agenda For Change and terms & conditions vary from Agenda for Change***

Main duties of the job

• To plan and write menus for theme days, special offers to provide adequate information to all customers and patients. Overall responsibility for ensuring that food and beverages are nutritious and appetising and the food must meet the hospital catering retail standards in conjunction with standard recipes via internal catering software, Saffron, which will enable you to edit the allergen information if a product is substituted used in the original recipe.
• You are required to attend the Food Safety and Food Allergen Management Training to be compliant with the Food Safety and Natasha’ Law in food preparation environment.
• To ensure food is correctly and safely prepared and stored, at the correct legal temperatures, in line with the HACCP regulations and to ensure compliance with all Food Safety requirements with corrective use of the COSHH procedures in a food preparation environment. Ensure food is prepared and stored correctly to minimise waste. To understand and adhere to proper food handling, safety and sanitation standards during food preparation service and clean up.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Knowledgeable about allergens and cultural needs including for example gluten free, low fat, halal, vegetarian, vegan diet
• Demonstrate strong financial acumen through correct menu planning and costing to deliver Trust finance expectations
• Excellent verbal and written communication and people skills, strong negotiation skills to support them in their role.
• Fully capable of understanding and maintaining the confidentiality across the site and respecting the needs of all stakeholders.
• Works well under pressure to meet the challenging deadlines for both operational and people aspects of their roles.
• Strong creativity skills with an ability to think beyond their processes and procedures with a passion for driving high standards within their environment.
• Customer focused and excellent interaction skills with customers and team members
• Set an example by being professional always and demonstrates product knowledge when enquiries are made
• Can effectively plan and manage own workloads, however understands when to ask for support when needed
• Upholds and reflects the vision and values of the Trust in all actions and behaviours
• Ability to learn new skills
• Excellent numeracy skills to understand principles of stock take and stock control

*** Please note this opportunity is NOT Agenda For Change and terms & conditions vary from Agenda for Change***

Person specification

Qualifications

• Strong level of spoken and written English and Maths
• Intermediate knowledge level of Microsoft Office
• Level 3 Food Safety or working towards

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledgeable about allergens and cultural needs

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.