Job summary
- Main area
- Senior Chef /Production Chef
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent: 5 from 7 days, including some weekend shifts
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 265-7477930
- Employer
- Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Northampton General Hospital
- Town
- Northampton
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Production Chef
Band 3
Job overview
Northampton General Hospital UHN has a great opportunity for an experienced Chef to join our established team working in our Central Production Kitchen within the hospital preparing and cooking Patient food. You’ll need to be passionate about food, enthusiastic, personable, creative, organised, and flexible, be a real foodie with a passion and flair for innovation and different styles of food.
Joining our team, you will provide quality meals to the required standard, and ensuring the kitchen and all related areas are kept to the required level of hygiene with all appropriate daily documentation completed.
You will make sure that the food produced is done within HACCP & food safety guidelines and recorded accurately.
You will assist the Production Manager with innovation and menu development, using the best equipment catering can offer.
Flexibility is required as you will be working 5 out of 7 days a week, including weekends.
Main duties of the job
Under the direction of the Production Manager, be a part of the team that prepares and cooks Patient meals to a high standard whilst in full compliance with the Department’s Food Safety and Hygiene Procedures and ensure that the Trust standards of cleanliness, hygiene and Food safety are met and maintained.
Demonstrate an awareness of the Food Safety Act and be able to work to the highest standards in both quality and hygiene. Ensure that food production and service is in accordance with appropriate procedures and the use and cleaning of machinery, materials, equipment, and PPE are available and used to carry out duties in a safe, efficient and effective manner.
To ensure that all food production areas, ancillary rooms’ fridges, and general catering equipment are kept in a clean and hygienic state through-out the duration of production, cooking and service.
· Contribute to menu planning and recipe development
Actively combat waste, ensuring food wastage is kept to a minimum and that all waste is recorded correctly.
Wear protective clothing in line with policy and use approved safe methods when lifting and handling.
Complete the required paperwork to maintain and monitor standards of work within the team to ensure that the Food Safety and Hygiene Manual Standards are achieved. When those standards are not achieved, to be responsible for reporting those shortfalls.
Please see Job description for further details
Working for our organisation
Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close adverts once we have received sufficient applications
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service.
Our Excellence Values
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone's full potential.
UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for UHN.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Under the direction of the Production Manager, be a part of the team that prepares and cooks Patient meals to a high standard whilst in full compliance with the Department’s Food Safety and Hygiene Procedures and ensure that the Trust standards of cleanliness, hygiene and Food safety are met and maintained.
Demonstrate an awareness of the Food Safety Act and be able to work to the highest standards in both quality and hygiene. Ensure that food production and service is in accordance with appropriate procedures and the use and cleaning of machinery, materials, equipment, and PPE are available and used to carry out duties in a safe, efficient and effective manner.
To ensure that all food production areas, ancillary rooms’ fridges, and general catering equipment are kept in a clean and hygienic state through-out the duration of production, cooking and service.
· Contribute to menu planning and recipe development
Actively combat waste, ensuring food wastage is kept to a minimum and that all waste is recorded correctly.
Wear protective clothing in line with policy and use approved safe methods when lifting and handling.
Complete the required paperwork to maintain and monitor standards of work within the team to ensure that the Food Safety and Hygiene Manual Standards are achieved. When those standards are not achieved, to be responsible for reporting those shortfalls.
To ensure that your knowledge of Food Legislation, Health and Safety, Risk Management and COSHH requirements are kept up to date and that this knowledge is cascaded to those lower grades of staff.
Complete all appropriate records and documentation as required by the department’s policies and procedures to include food produced and wastage to assist with stock control.
To lead by example by providing guidance and direction to staff in the team. Conducting yourself in a respectful and professional manner and to encourage others to act in the same manner.
Report any work difficulties and potential hazards such as equipment defects promptly to the responsible line manager.
To assist in the checking of food stores and the correct storage of products.
To be responsible for the “clean as you go” working practices with-in all areas and to clean up any spillage or spoilage that may occur as you work or as a direct consequence of your work.
Complete any other reasonable request related to tasks identified by the Production Manager, Catering Services Manager
Person specification
Education, Training and Qualifiications
Essential criteria
- NVQ Level 2
- Food Safety awareness (HACCP, COSHH)
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 3
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Delivered a service in a similar role, Ability to perform well under pressure in a busy kitchen
- Recognized Catering craft skills, Strong culinary skills and a genuine passion for cooking
- Catering experience and a great passion for food and team engagement
Skills
Essential criteria
- Strong culinary skills
Desirable criteria
- Bakery experience
- Patisserie and Confectionery
- Nutritional awareness
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Martin Baldwin
- Job title
- Catering Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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