Job overview
We’re looking for a skilled, passionate chef to join our Catering team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.
If you’re energetic, hardworking and committed to delivering high-quality, freshly cooked, nutritious food, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the experience of our patients, staff and visitors.
About the Role
As a Chef within our busy hospital kitchen, you will play an important role in ensuring our meals are fresh, wholesome and attractively presented. You will work as part of a supportive and experienced team, preparing meals to meet nutritional standards and supporting our wider catering service.
Our Catering Department is one of only a handful within the NHS that delivers true fresh-cooked catering on-site for both patients and retail services. We are proud to be recognised as one of only seven Exemplar Fresh Cooked Sites nationally, showcasing best practice in high-quality, nutritious food provision. Our chefs work closely with dietitians, nutritionists and clinical teams to cater for a wide range of medical, cultural and specialist dietary requirements — ensuring every patient receives safe, appropriate and nourishing meals tailored to their needs.
Main duties of the job
1. Preparing and cooking dishes using fresh ingredients
2. Ensuring meals are cooked to a high standard and well presented
3. Working to forecasted meal numbers and maintaining portion control
4. Supporting the delivery of function and event catering when required
5. Maintaining high standards of food safety, allergen awareness and nutritional knowledge
6. Operating effectively in a high-volume production kitchen
We are looking for someone who can thrive in a busy environment, stay calm under pressure, and is motivated by producing quality food every day.
About You
To succeed in this role, you will need:
7. Previous experience working as a chef in a quality-driven kitchen
8. Strong practical skills and confidence preparing food from scratch
9. Good knowledge of allergens, dietary requirements and nutritional content
10. A positive attitude and genuine passion for food
11. Ability to work effectively as part of a team
12. Flexibility to work shifts across a 7‑day rota, including some weekends
Working for our organisation
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides outstanding care to a population of around 600,000 across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire. We operate three hospital sites:
13. Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
14. Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
15. Andover War Memorial Hospital
We are proud of our inclusive culture where people belong, learn and grow. With over 9,000 staff and an annual turnover of £500 million, we offer excellent career development opportunities and the chance to be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking organisation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further information about this role please see Job Description document attached.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
16. Basic food hygiene certificate
17. City and Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent
Desirable criteria
18. Intermediate food hygiene certificate
19. City and Guilds 706/3
20. Computer literate
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
21. Experience of large scale food production
22. Ability to work autonomously
23. HACCP, COSHH
24. Working knowledge of Health and Safety
Desirable criteria
25. Experience working in an NHS Catering environment
26. Knowledge of legislation – The Food Act 1990
27. Food Hygiene Regulations 1995
Skills and Ability
Essential criteria
28. Effective team member with the ability to work unsupervised.
29. Ability to work as part of a team
30. Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
31. Effective organisational skills and ability to manage time and prioritise work
32. Attention to detail
33. Agility to change work pace to meet needs of service.
34. Ability to make judgements unaided and to work pro-actively.
Other role specific requirements
Essential criteria
35. Professional manner and organised approach
36. Enthusiastic, determined and assertive
37. Ability to work on own initiative
38. Flexible
39. Calm under pressure
40. Occasional flexibility in working hours may be required
41. High levels of personal hygiene
42. Physically fit