Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Head Chef

The closing date is 25 August 2025

Job summary

To work, as part of a team in the provision of a Catering Service to Staff, Visitors and Patients of the Whittington Hospital, ensuring that the service provided is a customer focused quality service. The role is to oversee the preparation and cooking of nutritionally balanced meals to the highest standards for a diverse customer including staff, patients, and visitors. As a key player in the busy restaurant, you'll lead by example, ensuring impeccable food quality, safety, and presentation. Your role will involve preparing breakfast and lunch menus, managing a live cooking environment, and inspiring your team to excel.

Main duties of the job

Preparing, cooking and presenting of all food to a consistent high standard
To liaise with the Restaurant Manager, and Restaurant Supervisor to ensure the food is always to the high standard in presentation and portion controls.
Preparation and cooking of modified diets if required.
To ensure all food is displayed well and the correct meal offer is always available throughout service.
To lead and assist with the meal service provision and associated duties ensuring mealtimes are adhered to.
To have a scheduled workplan within of kitchen and to adjust own working patterns to meet the demands of the business where necessary.
Involvement with planning and costings of menus providing information on nutrition, allergen and healthy diet options.
To manage food safety across and to ensure all staff are following the correct food hygiene procedures.

About us

We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.Our missionHelping local people live longer, healthier lives.Our visionProvide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.Our goalsWe have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services
To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population

Date posted

12 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£33,094 to £36,195 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3308

Job locations

Whittington Hospital

London

N19 5NF

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will oversee menu planning, ordering, costing, and stock management. It is crucial to maintain compliance with Health and Hygiene regulations and Food Safety procedures. Accurate record-keeping is essential for internal and external audits.

Collaboration within the team is key, and you should be comfortable working calmly in a fast-paced environment.

Understanding cooking techniques, temperatures, allergens, consistency and food texture is essential. Additionally, you will contribute creative and appealing ideas for our extensive menus.

Observing correct and safe procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To maintain all due-diligence processes relating to cook-chill cooking procedures as stated in the Trust food safety policy.

Ensure all food stored in fridges/freezers have correct labelling and are properly stored and rotated.

Ensuring economical and correct use of all materials and equipment.

Ensuring the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness is always maintained.

Covering for another Chefs as and when required.

Assure a high level of staff morale and motivation by personal leadership, communication and appropriate procedures

Help deal with customers feed-back and complaints.

Maintaining a tidy place of work including undertaking light cleaning duties.

Always maintaining neat appearance consistent with the catering dress code.

To any mechanical or safety defects and need for repairs to the supervisor for immediate action.

To attend training courses where necessary.

To be able to work flexibly as and when required.

Participation in the departments appraisal scheme.

Always promote the service and reputation of the department.

Full awareness of all dietary requirements.

Any other duties commensurate with the grade for the efficient running of the department.

Safe working practices in the retail kitchen in accordance with good catering practice and provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To report any accident immediately as per the Accident Procedurein accordance with Trust policy and Incident Reporting Form.

Adhere to departmental operational standards and procedures.

Follow and adhere to the Trust Values and Behaviour.

To observe and where necessary, follow all Fire Precautions as laid out within the general hospital guidelines.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Collaboration within the team is key, and you should be comfortable working calmly in a fast-paced environment.

Understanding cooking techniques, temperatures, allergens, consistency and food texture is essential. Additionally, you will contribute creative and appealing ideas for our extensive menus.

Observing correct and safe procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To maintain all due-diligence processes relating to cook-chill cooking procedures as stated in the Trust food safety policy.

Ensure all food stored in fridges/freezers have correct labelling and are properly stored and rotated.

Ensuring economical and correct use of all materials and equipment.

Ensuring the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness is always maintained.

Covering for another Chefs as and when required.

Assure a high level of staff morale and motivation by personal leadership, communication and appropriate procedures

Help deal with customers feed-back and complaints.

Maintaining a tidy place of work including undertaking light cleaning duties.

Always maintaining neat appearance consistent with the catering dress code.

To any mechanical or safety defects and need for repairs to the supervisor for immediate action.

To attend training courses where necessary.

To be able to work flexibly as and when required.

Participation in the departments appraisal scheme.

Always promote the service and reputation of the department.

Full awareness of all dietary requirements.

Any other duties commensurate with the grade for the efficient running of the department.

Safe working practices in the retail kitchen in accordance with good catering practice and provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To report any accident immediately as per the Accident Procedurein accordance with Trust policy and Incident Reporting Form.

Adhere to departmental operational standards and procedures.

Follow and adhere to the Trust Values and Behaviour.

To observe and where necessary, follow all Fire Precautions as laid out within the general hospital guidelines.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

Ability to work unsupervised
Good communicator both verbal and written
Ability to follow instructions
Ability to work within set deadlines
Ability to co-ordinate multiple tasks

Desirable

Previous customer care training
Understanding of what constitutes good customer service

Knowledge

Essential

To be proactive and organized in day-day department / service operations
Knowledge of food hygiene regulations
Good customer care

Desirable

Knowledge of how NHS operates
Knowledge of hospital Catering Services
Health and Safety at Work

Previous Experience

Essential

Previous experience working within a Catering environment
Understanding of Basic Food Hygiene principles, with the ability to attain Basic Food Hygiene Certification

Desirable

NHS experience
Working large scale food service unit

Qualifications

Desirable

Basic Food Hygiene qualification
Health and Safety training

Personal Qualities

Essential

Flexibility
Integrity and discretion
Organised and methodical in approach to work
Good communication Skills
Calm under pressure
Team worker & leader

Desirable

Creative
Outgoing, friendly personality

Any other factors relating to the post

Essential

Ability to build up good relationships with staff at all levels, especially internal customers

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

Ability to work unsupervised
Good communicator both verbal and written
Ability to follow instructions
Ability to work within set deadlines
Ability to co-ordinate multiple tasks

Desirable

Previous customer care training
Understanding of what constitutes good customer service

Knowledge

Essential

To be proactive and organized in day-day department / service operations
Knowledge of food hygiene regulations
Good customer care

Desirable

Knowledge of how NHS operates
Knowledge of hospital Catering Services
Health and Safety at Work

Previous Experience

Essential

Previous experience working within a Catering environment
Understanding of Basic Food Hygiene principles, with the ability to attain Basic Food Hygiene Certification

Desirable

NHS experience
Working large scale food service unit

Qualifications

Desirable

Basic Food Hygiene qualification
Health and Safety training

Personal Qualities

Essential

Flexibility
Integrity and discretion
Organised and methodical in approach to work
Good communication Skills
Calm under pressure
Team worker & leader

Desirable

Creative
Outgoing, friendly personality

Any other factors relating to the post

Essential

Ability to build up good relationships with staff at all levels, especially internal customers

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Hospital

London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Hospital

London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

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