Chef

NHS; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job description

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust requires a Chef to join a dedicated Catering Team based at West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

The Catering Department opens 365 days a year therefore we are looking for individuals who can work the following hours. The hours available per week are 30 hours (part time), shifts will be worked on a roster with 7.5 hour days between the hours of 6.30am and 7pm weekdays and may include alternate weekends - This will be discussed at interview.

Duties will include cooking to set recipes, serving patient meals, washing up and cleaning equipment in the busy Catering Department, and serving staff and visitors in our Staff dining room.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate good customer care and communication skills, with the ability to work alone and as part of a team, whilst maintaining a high level of attention to detail and food hygiene. The ability to remain calm under pressure is vital in this busy working environment.

A basic knowledge of hygiene principles and literacy/numeracy skills will be essential for this role along with the required chef qualifications.

Main duties of the job

1. To work as part of a team providing a safe, high quality catering service for the Trust.
2. To prepare and serve high quality nutritious food in accordance with the department's standard recipes, using fresh ingredients.
3. To be able to maintain prolonged concentration when preparing and cooking several different dishes in a busy and pressured environment.
4. To have a good understanding and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to HACCP and COSHH and follow the department's food hygiene practices.
5. To have knowledge and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to IDDSI and follow this patient safety guidance.
6. To offer guidance to ward staff in the absence of dietetic support (out of hours) with specific regard to allergen, consistency and dietary requirements for patients within the Trust.
7. To be aware of Trust policies and procedures applicable to the service and report any issues to the line manager.
8. To assist and guide the Food service supervisors in the absence of senior food production staff on issues related to dietary and IDDSI consistency.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community.

We are a busy, friendly, NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and teamwork guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Full job description and person specification attached.

KEY TASKS:

1. To undertake food production as part of a team producing safe, high quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, and visitors to the Trust.
2. To work in all areas of the food production kitchen covering all sections.
3. To follow standard recipes and to participate with continuous improvement.
4. To maintain records of their daily food production, wastage, and dish temperature control in line with the department's ISO procedures.
5. Help assemble meals for patient service, monitoring portion control of dishes and nutritional requirements.
6. To produce food for special functions.
7. To produce specific dietary dishes and meals following dietetic instructions.
8. To produce dishes and meals to specific IDDSI standards.
9. To work to a rigid timescale making sure meals are ready for service.
10. To maintain food hygiene standards with specific regard to temperature and cross-contamination guidelines.
11. To clean the food production area which they are working in.
12. Safe and hygienic use of high-cost, dangerous catering equipment.
13. Prepare fillings and dishes for use within other areas of the department in a safe hygienic method using standard recipes for staff/visitors restaurant and patients.
14. Assemble plated meals for specific dietary requirements out of normal hours for specific patients.
15. To assist with the safe service of meals to staff from within catering outlets offering guidance on choice, allergens, and dish content to help enhance customer satisfaction.
16. To assist with store deliveries when required following departmental procedures.

Person Specification

Education

1. NVQ Level 2 Food hygiene certificate
2. City and Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ level 3
3. Knowledge of IDDSI
4. Basic skills in literacy & numeracy
5. Dietary/nutrition training

Experience & Knowledge

1. Good understanding of HACCP, COSHH and Health and Safety legislation.
2. Previous experience of working within a catering environment.
3. Previous catering experience specifically in large scale service.

Skills & Abilities

1. Good customer care and communication skills.
2. Able to work either alone or as part of a team.
3. Able to work under pressure.

Personalities

1. Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
2. Able to work without supervision.
3. Able to work in a demanding environment.
4. Self-motivated & evidence of good timekeeping.
5. Adaptable to change.
6. Able to work in a Hospital ward environment.
7. Flexible approach to working hours and duties.
8. Self-motivated.
9. Interest in cooking/catering.

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.