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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Nursery Chef/Cook

The closing date is 08 August 2025

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Job summary

Nursery Chef/Cook

Jack in the Box, based at Upton Hospital in Slough

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm no weekend work and we are closed between Christmas and New year!

Are you a passionate and talented Chef or have relevant catering experience looking for a new opportunity? Do you enjoy a varied role that encompasses all areas of kitchen management in a nursery environment.

We at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Nurseries provide a nurturing environment where children thrive. We believe that healthy, delicious meals are essential for the growth and development of our children, and we are looking for a skilled chef or cook to help us achieve this.

Responsibilities:

  • Prepare nutritious and tasty meals for children aged 0-5

  • Support menus that cater to various dietary requirements

  • Maintain a clean and organised kitchen

  • Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are met

  • Collaborate with nursery staff to create a positive dining experience for children

You will work independently and manage kitchen operations effectively. It is essential that you have a food hygiene qualification and/or relevant experience and a good understanding around healthy eating, nutrition and allergens.

You will be confident and experienced in all areas of our kitchen and work alongside our Area Manager with creating menus.

We offer great opportunities for development in this role and support with internal and external training courses.

Main duties of the job

  • Full responsibility of the kitchen from meal preparation to cleaning down of equipment

  • Ordering of all fresh, frozen and nonperishable ingredients from a variety of approved suppliers

  • Maintaining good food hygiene standards

  • Ensuring all allergen and dietary requirements are met and catered to

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-TAP-CS283

Job locations

Nursery Jack In The Box , Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent experience

  • Food Hygiene Certificate

  • Previous experience in a similar role

  • Strong communication skills both written and verbal

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Carly Byrne on 01189 044636 Or email carly.byrne@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

*Applications for this role will be considered on a first come first serve basis and we may close the vacancy early if the right candidate is found.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent experience

  • Food Hygiene Certificate

  • Previous experience in a similar role

  • Strong communication skills both written and verbal

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Carly Byrne on 01189 044636 Or email carly.byrne@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

*Applications for this role will be considered on a first come first serve basis and we may close the vacancy early if the right candidate is found.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent qualification or 2 years relevant experience
  • Legible handwriting

Desirable

  • GCSE in English or Maths (A*-C) or equivalent qualification

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or Willingness to undertake
  • Commitment to personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • 2 years previous experience within catering for children
  • An awareness of special dietary requirements and allergens
  • Good understanding of health required diets
  • Good understanding of food preparation for next service
  • Good understanding of HACCP

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Knowledge of COSHH and Health and Safety regulations
  • Ability to work as part of a team and unsupervised
  • Flexibility to change working patterns as required
  • Good time management skills
  • Computer literate
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent qualification or 2 years relevant experience
  • Legible handwriting

Desirable

  • GCSE in English or Maths (A*-C) or equivalent qualification

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or Willingness to undertake
  • Commitment to personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • 2 years previous experience within catering for children
  • An awareness of special dietary requirements and allergens
  • Good understanding of health required diets
  • Good understanding of food preparation for next service
  • Good understanding of HACCP

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Knowledge of COSHH and Health and Safety regulations
  • Ability to work as part of a team and unsupervised
  • Flexibility to change working patterns as required
  • Good time management skills
  • Computer literate

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Nursery Jack In The Box , Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Nursery Jack In The Box , Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Nursery Manager

Carly Byrne

carly.byrne@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189044636

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-TAP-CS283

Job locations

Nursery Jack In The Box , Upton Hospital

Slough

SL1 2BJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)