Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Chef

The closing date is 02 December 2025

Job summary

Frimley Health Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated and creative Chef to join our busy hospital kitchen and staff restaurant at Frimley Park Hospital.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who takes pride in producing high-quality, traditional, homemade meals using fresh and, wherever possible, locally sourced ingredients. Working within a large production kitchen, you will play a key role in delivering nutritious and appealing meals that make a real difference to patient care and staff wellbeing.

We are seeking a motivated chef with proven experience in a quality-driven catering environment. You will bring enthusiasm, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for food. The ability to perform well under pressure and manage a varied workload is essential, as is a commitment to consistently delivering high standards.

Main duties of the job

In this varied and rewarding role, you will:

  • Prepare and cook dishes from fresh ingredients, following Trust recipes and menu plans for patients and staff.

  • Ensure every dish is cooked correctly, well-presented, and produced in line with forecasted requirements and portion control standards.

  • Support function and event catering as needed.

  • Work closely with the Head Chef and Assistant Head Chef to accommodate special dietary requirements.

  • Maintain excellent communication with patients, visitors, colleagues, suppliers, and wider Trust teams.

  • Contribute to menu planning and development.

  • Carry out audits and surveys relevant to the role.

  • Uphold exemplary kitchen hygiene, food safety and cleaning standards in line with current legislation.

  • Record food temperatures and follow all departmental procedures.

  • Manage stock effectively, ensuring correct rotation, storage, and security of goods.

  • Promote efficient use of Trust resources and ensure financial procedures are followed.

About us

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too. We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users. Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo

Details

Date posted

27 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

151-LC405

Job locations

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road

Frimley, Surrey

GU16 7UJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for further information

Please note this role does not offer sponsorship

What Youll Bring
  • Experience working as a chef in a high-quality catering setting.

  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

  • A commitment to excellent food quality, safety and presentation.

  • Confidence in using your judgement to resolve day-to-day operational issues.

  • A positive, courteous and professional approach.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for further information

Please note this role does not offer sponsorship

What Youll Bring
  • Experience working as a chef in a high-quality catering setting.

  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

  • A commitment to excellent food quality, safety and presentation.

  • Confidence in using your judgement to resolve day-to-day operational issues.

  • A positive, courteous and professional approach.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 or NVQ equivalent
  • Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene

Desirable

  • Intermediate Certificate in Food Hygiene
  • Knowledge of HACCP

Experience

Essential

  • Career structure that shows a logical progression to a chef position in a similar size and/or NHS catering operation
  • Experience of working in a service led and customer focused environment

Desirable

  • Experience with both the commercial food service sector and/or an NHS catering operation

Skills

Essential

  • Good knowledge of food safety / kitchen hygiene
  • Good command of written and spoken English
  • Ability to work efficiently and to time
  • Organised and methodical

Desirable

  • Good numeracy
  • Good communicator
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 or NVQ equivalent
  • Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene

Desirable

  • Intermediate Certificate in Food Hygiene
  • Knowledge of HACCP

Experience

Essential

  • Career structure that shows a logical progression to a chef position in a similar size and/or NHS catering operation
  • Experience of working in a service led and customer focused environment

Desirable

  • Experience with both the commercial food service sector and/or an NHS catering operation

Skills

Essential

  • Good knowledge of food safety / kitchen hygiene
  • Good command of written and spoken English
  • Ability to work efficiently and to time
  • Organised and methodical

Desirable

  • Good numeracy
  • Good communicator

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

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road

Frimley, Surrey

GU16 7UJ


Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road

Frimley, Surrey

GU16 7UJ


Employer's website

https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Food Service Manager

Debhra Womersley

Debhra.Womersley@nhs.net

03006134831

Details

Date posted

27 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

151-LC405

Job locations

Frimley Park Hospital

Portsmouth Road

Frimley, Surrey

GU16 7UJ


Supporting documents

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