Chef

Overview

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Chef who will be responsible for their own food preparation section and for controlling cooking and service operations, providing assistance to other chefs as part of daily activities to help remodel menus, optimise productivity and maintain kitchen stock, processes and systems used by the trust for the automation of catering processes. The post holder is responsible for all aspects of food preparation and service, providing catering services to patients, staff and visitors, including hosting hospitality events of established highest standards.

The post holder must meet standards in line with agreed policy and procedures, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), profitability and productivity, and maintain good customer and colleague relations at all times.

The closing date is 03 February 2026

To work within a team producing a high standard of food production for the patients, staff and visitors of the Trust, which meets all current Hygiene and Health & Safety legislation. To provide a high-quality catering service in line with standards, objectives and policy of the catering department for the patients, staff and visitors at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

The duties include food preparation, cooking and serving meals to patients, staff and visitors of the hospital as laid down in the patient selective menu systems, using recognised recipes and methods, always aiming to achieve the highest possible standard.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme that is changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Duties and responsibilities

• Taking full responsibility for a section and providing assistance with driving efficiencies, food ordering, maintaining required food stock levels and keeping stockholding area hygienic, clear of any obstruction, presentable and tidy at all times.
• Providing full support and taking responsibility for special dietary requirements for patients including keeping fully informed with the most up to date legislative guidelines around allergens and associated contamination risks, in order to be able to provide personalised patient care with minimum supervision.
• Emphasising to other members of the team the need for urgency and recognising time critical means to improve daily routines
• Providing constant support to sous chef, ensuring food safety and departmental HACCP policy are adhered to at all times.
• Keep up to date with departmental COSHH manual and PPE requirement for each food preparation and cleaning task
• Organise the work area on a daily basis ensuring stock levels are kept to an adequate level and kept in date by using stock rotation 3 working to the guidelines set out in the stores procedure relevant to your work area.
• Ensure all food/stock is stored at correct temperatures and ensure correct use of labelling by using label machine provided where appropriate.
• Ensure food meets trust standards and temperature requirements for both hot and cold food in line with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and deal with any discrepancies as per departmental policy and following departmental SOPs.
• Freshly prepare, cook and serve all dishes adhering strictly to recipes agreed by the head chef or sous chef, clinical teams and dieticians
• Serve food in accordance to the need of each individual…