Job Title: Chef
Location: Mountbatten Hospices (Southampton and Isle of Wight)
Contract: Zero Hours
Salary: £14.66 per hour
To Start: As soon as possible
Mountbatten Hospices support people across Southampton, West Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who are facing death, dying and bereavement. Our catering teams provide a professional catering service to a wonderful community and a passionate staffing team.
Job Purpose:
We are looking for a caring, kind and enthusiastic Chef to be responsible for the preparation, cooking and serving of quality, seasonal food in a contemporary style, primarily at our many events and functions.
The postholder may also be required to cover annual leave.
If you thrive in a close-knit team, this is your perfect fit.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
Overall duties
· To develop and plan menus that are in line with hospice and customer expectations, specifically tailoring menus to the needs of patients receiving care at the hospice.
· To produce food in a timely manner to ensure smooth service to all customers.
· To oversee the Catering Assistant(s) on duty, ensuring they are directed in completing required tasks and providing supervisory support and guidance as required.
· To ensure all appropriate ingredients are available for the menus and where necessary take action to source ingredients being mindful of available budget.
· To assistant in the developing and producing new services styles and food concepts.
· To communicate with relevant parties, including the catering and clinical teams, all requirements for and changes to planned menus.
· Maintain all standards of quality, food hygiene and health and safety under the guidance of the Head Chef and Manager.
· On occasions responsible for some aspects of food service to customers and provide high standards of customer service.
· To work on a shift basis as required by the business.
· To attend training courses and attend Hospice meetings as required.
Food Production
· To prepare and, where necessary, serve all food to the highest standard and in line with the hospice style and in a timely fashion
· To complete duties in the kitchen and service areas that are necessary to ensure an efficient, hygienic service is provided.
· To oversee and ensure the transport all food items from the delivery area to kitchen storerooms and to kitchen preparation areas as required.
· To oversee the Catering Assistant including:
o Directing them in the preparation of food.
o Ensuring the cleaning of kitchen floors, walls, waste bins, hot plates, kitchen equipment, canopies, delivery areas, storerooms, walk in fridges, and all other areas as necessary to ensure that the kitchen and service areas are hygienic.
o Ensure they clean, wash, dry and polish all kitchen equipment and service items by hand or machine in an efficient manner
o Ensure they carry out the correct disposal and recycling of all rubbish.
· Use equipment carefully to avoid breakage.
· To check all stock against delivery orders and ensure correct items and correct quantity are delivered.
· To monitor all stock brought into site and ensure it is stored appropriately to minimise waste and loss.
· Assist in monthly stock-takes as directed.
Health & Safety
· To understand and comply with Hospice and statutory health, hygiene and safety, quality standards including COSHH and HACCP ensuring all tasks are carried out in accordance these standards in all areas of the site.
· To carry out equipment and food temperature readings as directed and ensure they are recorded appropriately and daily where required.
· To ensure all food is labelled and dated in fridges and freezers
· Wear the correct uniform and safety shoes as directed and maintain uniform items appropriately.
· To support in ensuring all deliveries are received, inspected and checked off correctly and put away and stored correctly.
· To decant all food items in delivery area and store in the appropriate containers to reduce the chance of cross contamination. All food items to be stored in line with company and health and safety regulations.
· Use and store all chemicals appropriately in line with standards.
· Report any equipment and/or building fabric faults and any hygiene, health and safety hazard to the Head Chef, Assistant / Deputy Catering Manager or Head of Catering.
Customer Service
· To maintain a professional and friendly image with patients, families and all customers.
· Work effectively with all colleagues including clinical staff to ensure excellent customer service.
· Attend to customer needs in a polite and helpful manner providing assistance where necessary and tailoring service where possible to meet patient / customer needs.
· To assist with the service of food as required and accurately handle cash sales.
If you believe you have the skills and experience to be a success in this role we would love to hear from you Please click 'Apply', ensuring you attach a recent copy of your CV with up to date contact details. If you are successful at making it through to interview we will contact you to discuss the role and make sure it's the right fit for you.
Alternatively, if you have any questions or would like to arrange an informal visit, please contact Vera Mircescu on
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £14.66 per hour
Benefits:
* Company events
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Free parking
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
Experience:
* Food safety: 2 years (preferred)
* Kitchen: 2 years (preferred)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 10/09/2025
Reference ID: VC244