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The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Chef

The closing date is 03 February 2026

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Job summary

Responsible for their own food preparation section and controlling cooking and service operation, and providing assistance to the other chefs as part of daily activities to help remodelling menus, optimising productivity and maintaining kitchen stock, processes including and system including software that are used by the trust for automation of catering processes. Required to undertake responsibilities for all aspects of food preparation and service, providing catering services to patients, staff and visitors restaurants including hosting hospitality events of already established highest standards. The post holder is required to meet standards in line with agreed policy, procedures, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) profitability and productivity. The requirement for this role is to maintain good customer and colleague relations at all times.

Main duties of the job

- To work within a team producing a high standard of food production for the patient, staff and visitors of the Trust, which meets with all current Hygiene and Health & Safety legislation. To provide a high-quality catering service in line with standards, objectives and policy of the catering department for the patients, staff and visitors at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. - The duties will include food preparation, cooking and serving of meals to patients, staff and visitors of the hospital as laid down in the patient selective menu systems, using recognised recipes and methods. Always aiming to achieve the highest possible standard.

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

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

000399

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

• Taking full responsibility for a section and providing assistance with driving efficiencies, food ordering, maintaining required food stock levels and keeping stockholding area hygienic, clear of any obstruction, presentable and tidy at all times.

• Providing full support and taking responsibility for special dietary requirements for patients including keeping fully informed with most up to date legislative guidelines around allergens and associated contamination risks, in order to be able to provide personalised patient care with minimum supervision.

• Emphasising to other members of the team, need for urgency and recognising time critical means to improve daily routines

• Providing constant support to sous chef, ensuring food safety and departmental HACCP policy are adhered to at all times.

• Keep up to date with departmental COSHH manual and PPE requirement for each food preparation and cleaning task

• Organise the work area on a daily basis ensuring stock levels are kept to an adequate level and kept in date by using stock rotation 3 working to the guidelines set out in the stores procedure relevant to your work area.

• Ensure all food/stock is stored at correct temperatures and ensure correct use of labelling by using label machine provided where appropriate.

• Ensure food meets trust standards and temperature requirements for both hot and cold food in line with Hazard analysis and critical control points and deal with any discrepancies as per departmental policy and following departmental SOPs.

• Freshly prepare, cook and serve all dishes adhering strictly to recipes agreed by the head chef or sous chef, clinical teams and dieticians

• Serve food in accordance to the need of each individual person ensuring any changes are agreed/ requested before service.

• Attend all relevant mandatory training Inc. Food Hygiene, Fire, Manual Handling, Health and Safety, COSHH, Corporate Induction, In House Induction, plus any others as deemed necessary.

 

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

• Taking full responsibility for a section and providing assistance with driving efficiencies, food ordering, maintaining required food stock levels and keeping stockholding area hygienic, clear of any obstruction, presentable and tidy at all times.

• Providing full support and taking responsibility for special dietary requirements for patients including keeping fully informed with most up to date legislative guidelines around allergens and associated contamination risks, in order to be able to provide personalised patient care with minimum supervision.

• Emphasising to other members of the team, need for urgency and recognising time critical means to improve daily routines

• Providing constant support to sous chef, ensuring food safety and departmental HACCP policy are adhered to at all times.

• Keep up to date with departmental COSHH manual and PPE requirement for each food preparation and cleaning task

• Organise the work area on a daily basis ensuring stock levels are kept to an adequate level and kept in date by using stock rotation 3 working to the guidelines set out in the stores procedure relevant to your work area.

• Ensure all food/stock is stored at correct temperatures and ensure correct use of labelling by using label machine provided where appropriate.

• Ensure food meets trust standards and temperature requirements for both hot and cold food in line with Hazard analysis and critical control points and deal with any discrepancies as per departmental policy and following departmental SOPs.

• Freshly prepare, cook and serve all dishes adhering strictly to recipes agreed by the head chef or sous chef, clinical teams and dieticians

• Serve food in accordance to the need of each individual person ensuring any changes are agreed/ requested before service.

• Attend all relevant mandatory training Inc. Food Hygiene, Fire, Manual Handling, Health and Safety, COSHH, Corporate Induction, In House Induction, plus any others as deemed necessary.

 

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

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

Desirable

  • NVQ or equivalent in nutrition
  • Basic qualification in food hygiene (CIEH Level 2)
  • 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
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent in catering

Desirable

  • NVQ or equivalent in nutrition
  • Basic qualification in food hygiene (CIEH Level 2)
  • 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:

Chef Production Manager

Claire Bishop

claire.bishop4@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

000399

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX


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