Job Description
Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.Job overviewWe’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 RoleAs 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- Preparing and cooking dishes using fresh ingredients- Ensuring meals are cooked to a high standard and well presented- Working to forecasted meal numbers and maintaining portion control- Supporting the delivery of function and event catering when required- Maintaining high standards of food safety, allergen awareness and nutritional knowledge- Operating effectively in a high-volume production kitchenWe 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 YouTo succeed in this role, you will need:- Previous experience working as a chef in a quality-driven kitchen- Strong practical skills and confidence preparing food from scratch- Good knowledge of allergens, dietary requirements and nutritional content- A positive attitude and genuine passion for food- Ability to work effectively as part of a team- Flexibility to work shifts across a 7‑day rota, including some weekendsWorking for our organisationHampshire 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:- Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital- Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester- Andover War Memorial HospitalWe 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 responsibilitiesFor 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 specificationTraining and QualificationsEssential criteria- Basic food hygiene certificate- City and Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalentDesirable criteria- Intermediate food hygiene certificate- City and Guilds 706/3- Computer literateExperience and KnowledgeEssential criteria- Experience of large scale food production- Ability to work autonomously- HACCP, COSHH- Working knowledge of Health and SafetyDesirable criteria- Experience working in an NHS Catering environment- Knowledge of legislation – The Food Act 1990- Food Hygiene Regulations 1995Skills and AbilityEssential criteria- Effective team member with the ability to work unsupervised.- Ability to work as part of a team- Effective interpersonal and communication skills.- Effective organisational skills and ability to manage time and prioritise work- Attention to detail- Agility to change work pace to meet needs of service.- Ability to make judgements unaided and to work pro-actively.Other role specific requirementsEssential criteria- Professional manner and organised approach- Enthusiastic, determined and assertive- Ability to work on own initiative- Flexible- Calm under pressure- Occasional flexibility in working hours may be required- High levels of personal hygiene- Physically fitOur commitment to you:We are committed to equality and diversity in both the provision of our services and how we recruit and manage our staff.
Applications are encouraged from everyone with the necessary attributes for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.The paperwork:- HHFT is committed to putting the safety and care of our patients first – as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues. Therefore, we would recommend that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you understand that we are treating COVID-19 positive patients within our services.- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted at least 5 working days before the scheduled interview date. Applications will be submitted directly into our preferred third party recruitment system (Trac).
All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs via email - please ensure to check your junk/spam folders.- All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.- In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process.- This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. If you intend to apply you are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.- We believe that using technology wisely reflects strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, it's essential to personalise your recruitment application to showcase your unique skills and experiences.
Over-reliance on generic, AI-generated content may result in rejection if multiple candidates submit applications with similar language or structure. In such cases, recruiting managers may reach out for further clarity where applications appear consistent with others, to better understand your individual strengths.Tackling Climate Change: Hampshire Hospitals aims to embed sustainability and net zero carbon principles into the delivery of care across all its services. To find out more, search HHFT Climate Action or [email protected].