Job summary
The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting the kitchen team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals that meet patients' medical and dietary requirements. This role involves planning balanced menus with dietitians, ensuring compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations, and maintaining exceptional standards of taste, presentation, and nutrition. The Senior Chef support the kitchen operations, staff training, stock control, and budgeting while supporting patient well-being through nutritious, appealing food that enhances the hospital's standard of care.
Main duties of the job
- Oversee all aspects of food preparation and service to ensure the delivery of nutritious, high-quality, and appetising meals that meet the specific dietary and medical needs of patients, doctors, staff when required and visitors.
- Plan, develop, and implement varied menus in consultation with dietitians and healthcare professionals, ensuring compliance with food safety, hygiene, and nutritional standards.
- Accommodate individual dietary restrictions, allergies, and texture modifications while maintaining menu variety and appeal.
- Train, and motivate kitchen staff, managing daily operations efficiently and promoting teamwork, professionalism, and high performance.
- Maintain strict cost control, manage stock and ordering processes, and ensure portion accuracy to support budgetary requirements.
- Supervise food production to guarantee consistency, quality, and presentation, ensuring full adherence to infection control and hygiene regulations.
- Collaborate with clinical and administrative teams to support patient wellbeing through nutritious and enjoyable meals.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, audits, and inspections to uphold regulatory and organisational standards.
- Foster a safe, positive, and compliant working environment that promotes continuous learning and development among catering staff.
- Use creativity, leadership, and attention to detail to deliver an exceptional dining experience that enhances the overall standard of care within the healthcare facility.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- City & Guilds 1 & 2 Catering or NVQ equivalent
- NVQ level 3
- Knowledge for special dietary requirements
- Good level of numeracy and literacy skills
- Intermediate Food Safety level 3
- Allergies awareness level 2
Desirable
- Advanced Food Hygiene
- IOSH Managing Safely
- Allergies management level 3
Experience
Essential
- Proven catering experience
- Experience in fresh food production
- Knowledge of HACCP
- Knowledge of COSHH
- Knowledge of legislation - The Food Act 1990
- Food Hygiene Regulations 1995
- Knowledge of food nutritional content., diets and modified food regulations IDDSI
- Experience in stock management
Desirable
- Working within healthcare
- Knowledge/previous experience of health and safety
- Previous supervisory experience
Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work without supervision, making key decisions as appropriate
- Ability to work as part of a team
Desirable
- Professional development certificates
- Proven ability to use an online ordering system and specific food and non-food ordering software
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- City & Guilds 1 & 2 Catering or NVQ equivalent
- NVQ level 3
- Knowledge for special dietary requirements
- Good level of numeracy and literacy skills
- Intermediate Food Safety level 3
- Allergies awareness level 2
Desirable
- Advanced Food Hygiene
- IOSH Managing Safely
- Allergies management level 3
Experience
Essential
- Proven catering experience
- Experience in fresh food production
- Knowledge of HACCP
- Knowledge of COSHH
- Knowledge of legislation - The Food Act 1990
- Food Hygiene Regulations 1995
- Knowledge of food nutritional content., diets and modified food regulations IDDSI
- Experience in stock management
Desirable
- Working within healthcare
- Knowledge/previous experience of health and safety
- Previous supervisory experience
Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work without supervision, making key decisions as appropriate
- Ability to work as part of a team
Desirable
- Professional development certificates
- Proven ability to use an online ordering system and specific food and non-food ordering software
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.
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
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.
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).
