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The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Head Chef

The closing date is 23 December 2025

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Job summary

The Catering team are looking for a dynamic New Head Chef to lead the team to excellence. We are expanding our team to meet the needs of our Patients ,staff and Visitors in our on site fresh cook production kitchen. We are looking for someone with a passion for food ,knowledge of the latest trends in food and a drive to push the team forward as we look to deliver on the day ordering and cooking The candidate will need to be Organised, have flexibility due to operational issues and be prepared to excite and educate the team.

Main duties of the job

The Head Chef is responsible for the day-to-day management of the kitchen operations at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. This includes: - Leading food production and preparation for patients, staff, and visitors. - Supervising and managing the kitchen team, including catering assistants and chefs. - Ensuring compliance with food safety standards, hygiene regulations (HACCP), and Trust policies. - Developing menus that meet dietary requirements, including special dietary needs. - Managing stock control, ordering, and cost efficiency to optimise productivity. - Working closely with the Chef Manager and Facilities Team to improve catering services, automate processes, and ensure high-quality meal service delivery. - Upholding customer service excellence, ensuring meals are nutritious, safe, and prepared to the highest standards. This role requires an innovative and proactive approach to managing the catering service, ensuring operational effectiveness while maintaining a strong focus on patient experience and staff well-being. As part of this role, the post holder will be required to participate in an on-call rota, holding the on-call phone one week in every five. This responsibility includes providing initial support for urgent operational issues, escalating concerns where necessary, and ensuring service continuity outside of standard working hours.

About us

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 thats 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 were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. Were 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.

Details

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,686 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

000190

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Kitchen Operations & Food Service Management

· Lead the kitchen team in preparing and cooking high-quality meals for patients, staff, and visitors.

· Oversee special dietary requirements, ensuring allergen compliance and minimal risk of cross-contamination.

· Monitor food hygiene standards, portion control, and presentation, ensuring consistency in quality.

· Ensure all food service processes adhere to NHS Trust guidelines, HACCP protocols, and legal food safety regulations.

· Supervise meal service in patient dining areas and staff restaurants, ensuring timely and professional delivery.

· Act as a point of escalation for operational issues within the catering team.

2. Stock Control & Resource Management

· Maintain accurate stock levels, ensuring FIFO (First-In, First-Out) principles are applied.

· Oversee ordering, receiving, and storing ingredients, ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

· Manage budget control measures, minimizing food wastage and maintaining cost efficiency.

· Ensure all food items are stored at the correct temperatures, and labelling procedures are followed.

· Support the automation of catering processes, including software integration for improved efficiency.

3. Compliance, Safety & Hygiene

· Ensure strict adherence to HACCP policies and NHS food safety regulations.

· Conduct risk assessments and safety audits to maintain kitchen hygiene and prevent contamination.

· Ensure staff follow infection control procedures, including PPE usage and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations.

· Attend all mandatory training, including Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, Manual Handling, and Health & Safety.

· Ensure kitchen equipment is clean, well-maintained, and safe for use. 4. Staff Leadership & Team Development

· Supervise and train kitchen staff, ensuring high performance and professional development.

4. Staff Leadership & Team Development

· Supervise and train kitchen staff, ensuring high performance and professional development

· Write the staff rotas, absence management, and workforce planning, ensuring appropriate coverage.

· Provide feedback, coaching, and appraisals to team members, fostering a culture of excellence.

· Promote a collaborative and positive work environment, ensuring strong team morale.

5. Continuous Improvement & Menu Development

· Assist the Catering manager to work closely with dietitians and clinical teams to ensure menus align with nutritional needs.

· Assist in menu development and service improvements, incorporating patient feedback and best practices.

· Identify and implement efficiency measures, improving kitchen productivity and service quality.

· Support quality audits and inspections, ensuring all standards are consistently met.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Kitchen Operations & Food Service Management

· Lead the kitchen team in preparing and cooking high-quality meals for patients, staff, and visitors.

· Oversee special dietary requirements, ensuring allergen compliance and minimal risk of cross-contamination.

· Monitor food hygiene standards, portion control, and presentation, ensuring consistency in quality.

· Ensure all food service processes adhere to NHS Trust guidelines, HACCP protocols, and legal food safety regulations.

· Supervise meal service in patient dining areas and staff restaurants, ensuring timely and professional delivery.

· Act as a point of escalation for operational issues within the catering team.

2. Stock Control & Resource Management

· Maintain accurate stock levels, ensuring FIFO (First-In, First-Out) principles are applied.

· Oversee ordering, receiving, and storing ingredients, ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

· Manage budget control measures, minimizing food wastage and maintaining cost efficiency.

· Ensure all food items are stored at the correct temperatures, and labelling procedures are followed.

· Support the automation of catering processes, including software integration for improved efficiency.

3. Compliance, Safety & Hygiene

· Ensure strict adherence to HACCP policies and NHS food safety regulations.

· Conduct risk assessments and safety audits to maintain kitchen hygiene and prevent contamination.

· Ensure staff follow infection control procedures, including PPE usage and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations.

· Attend all mandatory training, including Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, Manual Handling, and Health & Safety.

· Ensure kitchen equipment is clean, well-maintained, and safe for use. 4. Staff Leadership & Team Development

· Supervise and train kitchen staff, ensuring high performance and professional development.

4. Staff Leadership & Team Development

· Supervise and train kitchen staff, ensuring high performance and professional development

· Write the staff rotas, absence management, and workforce planning, ensuring appropriate coverage.

· Provide feedback, coaching, and appraisals to team members, fostering a culture of excellence.

· Promote a collaborative and positive work environment, ensuring strong team morale.

5. Continuous Improvement & Menu Development

· Assist the Catering manager to work closely with dietitians and clinical teams to ensure menus align with nutritional needs.

· Assist in menu development and service improvements, incorporating patient feedback and best practices.

· Identify and implement efficiency measures, improving kitchen productivity and service quality.

· Support quality audits and inspections, ensuring all standards are consistently met.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 3 GCSE or equivalent E
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent in catering

Desirable

  • NVQ or equivalent in nutrition
  • Basic qualification in food hygiene (CIEH Level 2) Basic qualification in food
  • hygiene (CIEH Level 3)
  • Previous experience in hospital trust environment
  • Previous experience in hotel or similar large establishment

Experience

Essential

  • Culinary service, hospitality, restaurant or large retail environment
  • Working with basic PC, printers and scanners
  • Experience working with large team

Desirable

  • Complaint handling
  • Ability to conduct risk assessments (Familiarisation with risk management
  • protocols)
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 3 GCSE or equivalent E
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent in catering

Desirable

  • NVQ or equivalent in nutrition
  • Basic qualification in food hygiene (CIEH Level 2) Basic qualification in food
  • hygiene (CIEH Level 3)
  • Previous experience in hospital trust environment
  • Previous experience in hotel or similar large establishment

Experience

Essential

  • Culinary service, hospitality, restaurant or large retail environment
  • Working with basic PC, printers and scanners
  • Experience working with large team

Desirable

  • Complaint handling
  • Ability to conduct risk assessments (Familiarisation with risk management
  • protocols)

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

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Catering Manager

Graham Parker

Graham.parker2@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,686 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

000190

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


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