Job summary
- Main area
- Catering
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 179-7703008-F
- Employer
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- West Suffolk Hospital
- Town
- Bury St Edmunds
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/01/2026 08:00
Employer heading
Cook
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust requires a Cook 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 37.5 hours (full 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. 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 good 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
• To work as part of a team providing a safe, high quality catering service for the Trust.
• To maintain hygiene standards.
• To prepare and serve high quality nutritious food in accordance with the departments standard recipes, using fresh ingredients
• To be able to maintain prolonged concentration when preparing and cooking serval different dishes in a busy and pressured environment.
• To have a good understanding and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to HACCP and COSSH and follow the departments Food hygiene practices.
• To have knowledge and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to of IDDSI and follow this patient safety guidance.
• 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 patient within the Trust.
• To be aware of Trust policies and procedures applicable to the service and report any issues the line manager.
• To assist and guide the Food service supervisors in the absence of senior food production staff on issues related to dietary and IDDSI consistency.
Working for our organisation
#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 team work 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?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- NVQ Level 2 Food hygiene certificate
- City and Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ level 3
- Allergen training
- Knowledge of IDDSI
- A good general education
- Basic skills in literacy & numeracy
Desirable criteria
- Dietary/nutrition training
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good understanding of HACCP, COSSH and Health and Safety legislation.
- Previous experience of working within a catering environment.
Desirable criteria
- Previous catering experience specifically in large scale service
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good customer care and communication skills
- Able to work either alone or as part of a team
- Good attention to detail
- Able to work under pressure
Personalities
Essential criteria
- Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Able to work without supervision.
- Able to work in a demanding environment.
- Self-motivated & evidence of good timekeeping
- Adaptable to change
- Able to work in a Hospital ward environment
- Flexible approach to working hours and duties
Desirable criteria
- Self-motivated
- Interest in cooking/catering
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Vanessa Theobald
- Job title
- Catering Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01284 713462
- Additional information
Luke Nobbs Assistant Catering Manager 01284 713463
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