Senior Cook / Head Chef
The closing date is 20 November 2025
Job summary
The Yeatman Hospital is seeking a skilled and experienced Senior Cook/Head Chef who is passionate about food and wants to make a difference.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for culinary excellence, strong leadership abilities, and a keen eye on detail.
As Senior Cook/Head Chef, you will have full operational and financial responsibility for the hospitals catering facility, leading the team to deliver the highest quality of food and service to 26 in-patients, as well as our staff and members of the public in our friendly hospital caf.
You must be able to work flexibly as part of a rota including working weekends and bank holidays.
Main duties of the job
Responsibilities
- Supervising and supporting a small team of catering staff, ensuring the smooth day to day operation
- Recruiting, managing and training catering team
- Planning of menus, orders, deliveries and budget control
- Managing food safety, Health & Safety and Allergens legislation, overseeing food safety practices and compliance and conducting periodic audits
Requirement
- Desirable - Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to undertake
- Strong knowledge of kitchen operation, food production and culinary techniques
- Excellent leadership and supervisory skills
- Understanding of HACCP, allergen regulations and best practice
- Awareness of COSHH regulation
- Basic IT skills/computer competence
Offer
- Permanent contract - no late nights
- Generous holiday allowance increasing with service
- NHS pension
- Uniform provided
- On-site free parking
- Healthcare discount scheme
Appointment to this post is subject to a standard DBS certificate.
Although this is a full-time position of 37.5hrs per week, we are committed to supporting flexible working in line with service needs and would consider 30 hours availability.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Details
Date posted
06 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£24,937 to £26,598 a year p.a.
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
152-S136.25
Job locations
The Yeatman Hospital
Hospital Lane
Sherborne
DT9 3JU
Employer details
Employer name
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Yeatman Hospital
Hospital Lane
Sherborne
DT9 3JU
Employer's website
https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Supporting documents
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