Job overview

We’re looking for a skilled, passionate chef to join our Catering team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

If you’re energetic, hardworking and committed to delivering high-quality, freshly cooked, nutritious food, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to the experience of our patients, staff and visitors.

About the Role

As a Chef within our busy hospital kitchen, you will play an important role in ensuring our meals are fresh, wholesome and attractively presented. You will work as part of a supportive and experienced team, preparing meals to meet nutritional standards and supporting our wider catering service.

Our Catering Department is one of only a handful within the NHS that delivers true fresh-cooked catering on-site for both patients and retail services. We are proud to be recognised as one of only seven Exemplar Fresh Cooked Sites nationally, showcasing best practice in high-quality, nutritious food provision. Our chefs work closely with dietitians, nutritionists and clinical teams to cater for a wide range of medical, cultural and specialist dietary requirements — ensuring every patient receives safe, appropriate and nourishing meals tailored to their needs.

Main duties of the job

• Preparing and cooking dishes using fresh ingredients
• Ensuring meals are cooked to a high standard and well presented
• Working to forecasted meal numbers and maintaining portion control
• Supporting the delivery of function and event catering when required
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, allergen awareness and nutritional knowledge
• Operating effectively in a high-volume production kitchen

We are looking for someone who can thrive in a busy environment, stay calm under pressure, and is motivated by producing quality food every day.

About You

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Previous experience working as a chef in a quality-driven kitchen
• Strong practical skills and confidence preparing food from scratch
• Good knowledge of allergens, dietary requirements and nutritional content
• A positive attitude and genuine passion for food
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Flexibility to work shifts across a 7‑day rota, including some weekends

Working for our organisation

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides outstanding care to a population of around 600,000 across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire. We operate three hospital sites:

• Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
• Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
• Andover War Memorial Hospital

We are proud of our inclusive culture where people belong, learn and grow. With over 9,000 staff and an annual turnover of £500 million, we offer excellent career development opportunities and the chance to be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking organisation.