Job summary
- Main area
- Estates & Facilities - Catering
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 210-2025-817
- Employer
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Countess of Chester Hospital
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 27/04/2026
Employer heading
Head Chef
Band 5
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.
Job overview
Working Full time - 37.5 hours per week
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join the Catering Services Team for the role of Head Chef. You will support the Head of Catering Services and manage the catering team within the department, producing the finest quality food for our patients and staff as well as delivering excellent customer service.
We are looking for an individual who has achieved a good grounding within the catering business, but would like to further develop and become proficient in all aspects of managing a busy Catering Service within an NHS Hospital.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Main duties of the job
The Catering Department is a busy and multi-functional area of the Hospital, providing meals for patients and staff and meeting the Hospitality Services/Catering requirements for the wider Trust customers.
The successful candidate will have achieved good grounding within the Catering Industry, preferably educated to advanced certificate or diploma level minimum NVQ Qualification (Level 3) have relevant equivalent experience. You should have strong time-management and leadership skills and be able to prioritise and delegate well. The role requires a good working knowledge of computer software including Word, Excel and strong, demonstrable skills in all aspects of administration.
The role extends to the catering provision of our Ellesmere Port Hospital and its patients and will require regular visits to the hospital to ensure catering standards are being delivered and consistently met. A full driving license will be required in order to facilitate the management of this particular objective and this aspect of the role.
Working for our organisation
The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Level 4 (Advanced) Food Hygiene Certificate
- Level 3 Food Safety or HACCP
- NVQ Level 3 In Professional Cookery
Desirable criteria
- Certificate in ILM First Line Management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience of large scale food production/kitchen management
Desirable criteria
- Budget planning experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of food safety and Health & Safety law, including HACCP and COSHH
- Allergen aware
Desirable criteria
- Experience of NHS systems including ESR/E-procurement
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Shaun Carr
- Job title
- Deputy Catering Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 365615
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