Job overview
To succeed in this role, you need to be self-motivated and flexible in your work. Being a team player and showing initiative will help us achieve success together. Good communication skills are essential since you will work with a diverse team to maintain high standards.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for growth, as you will manage and develop the team while providing exceptional service and adhering to food hygiene practices. Strong culinary skills will help you perform well in this role.
We are seeking an individual with experience in preparing both cooked and chilled food. Creativity and innovation are essential for enhancing the dining experience for both patients and staff. By ensuring our healthy food choices meet trust and government guidelines, you will play a key role in increasing satisfaction within the organisation.
You’ll oversee daily food production, uphold high-quality standards, manage the team, and ensure health and safety compliance. This is a great opportunity to grow within a supportive team and take ownership of the food service.
If this sounds like the role for you, please apply below.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Please note - This role is not eligible for sponsorship unless you meet criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024.
Main duties of the job
1. To monitor and maintain consistent food standards and quality across all trust catering areas during all stages of production.
2. To ensure that quality control measures and hygiene systems are all achieved at all times.
3. To prepare, cook and present inpatient feeding and retail food offerings in line with expected departmental standards.
4. To ensure that all food is presented and served in line with Trust standards using innovation in the method, presentation and food service.
5. To participate in the HACCP procedure in accordance with the Trusts Food Safety Policy, to create and maintain correct use of records including, but not limited to, cleaning rota and closing down procedures.
6. To ensure that quality control measures and hygiene systems are always achieved.
7. To have accountability for the day-to-day running of the kitchen service.
8. To actively participate in the ongoing management and development of menus, in
line with Trust guidance.
9. To actively discuss ideas with the customer and obtain constructive feedback.
10. To monitor stock control, ensuring that stock rotation and use by dates for the production of food are followed and food is produced is not to contribute to wastage.
11. To be responsible for the collection of deliveries to the site, undertaking quality assurance and all goods received are accounted for.
12. In line with service requirements, you may be asked to support other units within the Trust, providing assistance to teams as needed.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the northwest of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original, and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment, and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour, and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
13. To ensure that quality control measures and hygiene systems are all achieved at all times.
14. To prepare, cook and present food to Patients in line with exceptional departmental standards, using fresh ingredients.
15. To participate in the HACCP procedure in accordance with the Trusts Food Safety Policy and maintain correct use of records.
16. To ensure that quality control measures and hygiene systems are always achieved.
17. To have accountability for the day-today running of the kitchen service.
18. To actively participate in the ongoing management and development of menus, in line with Trust guidance.
19. To actively discuss ideas with the customer and obtain constructive feedback.
20. To Maintain staff training records and supervisions in line with trust guidance.
Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
21. Pay Enhancements
22. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
23. Excellent pension
24. Cycle to work scheme
25. Salary sacrifice car scheme
26. Wellbeing programme
27. fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
28. Catering/Chef Qualification
Desirable criteria
29. NVQ L3 Management Supervision
Food Hygiene
Essential criteria
30. Food Hygiene certification
Desirable criteria
31. Level 3 or above Food hygiene
Experience
Essential criteria
32. Kitchen leadership experience
Desirable criteria
33. Commercial CDP/Sous Chef
The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.
The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.
We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.
Sponsorship
We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click .
If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.
The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it.
Do you have experience outside the NHS?
We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.
We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.