Job Summary
Working Hours : As & When
Support the Deputy Head of Catering in achieving the highest standards of food preparation, cooking and service. The post holder will provide attractive and palatable meals to hospital patients, staff and visitors, and will adopt responsibility at all times for the quality and outcome of each dish prepared and each task undertaken.
The chef will have a commitment to the highest standards of personal hygiene and dress, and take full responsibility for ensuring safe food hygiene and health & safety practices are observed at all times.
Assist in the preparation, cooking and service of food for Ellesmere Port Hospital.
Enhancements Apply As Follows:
Saturday: Time plus 35%
Sunday/Bank Holiday - Times plus 69%
Main duties of the job
Prepare, cook and serve meals as per menu to patients, staff and visitors, ensuring the highest standards of food hygiene throughout the process.
Observe and maintain all necessary 'due diligence' records as requested, i.e.: Fridge, Freezer Temperature recordings, HACCP.
Follow/implement all aspects of food safety management systems, for which you are responsible.
Follow standard recipes and methods and make the most economical use of fresh/raw ingredients, whilst maintaining strict avoidance of waste.
Allocate work to the kitchen support staff, in conjunction with the Deputy Head /Manager, and assist in the induction and training of newly appointed Chefs, catering assistants and porters.
Check that all food received is in accordance with quality and quantity ordered, adopting basic stock control principles.
Assist in the ordering of certain perishable foods and dairy store items.
About Us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:
The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Details
Date posted
04 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£24,937 to £26,598 a year pa pro rata
Contract
Bank
Working pattern
Flexible working
Reference number
BANK-A
Job locations
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Job Description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description For Further Details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job Description
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications
City & Guilds 706/1&2 or NVQ Equivalent
Good standard of English & Maths
Level 3 Award in Food Safety - Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate
Basic health & Safety Certificate and Allergen Awareness
Desirable
Nebosh
Level 4 Food Safety Management
Essential
Knowledge and Experience
Experience in the preparation of therapeutic diets
Working knowledge of HACCP principles and their specific application for catering
Person Specification
Essential
Experience in the preparation of therapeutic diets
Working knowledge of HACCP principles and their specific application for catering
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
LNKD1_UKTJ