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Job summary

Main area
Chef (PPU)
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Bank
Hours
Flexible working - As & When
Job ref
391-3741-BANK
Employer
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Free Hospital
Town
London
Salary
£16.43 Hourly Paid
Salary period
Hourly
Closing
26/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS

Bank Chef Band 3

Band 3

Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community.  This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers’ money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Click here to view our video Welcome to the Royal Free


 

Job overview

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the UK, delivering care to more than 1.6 million people a year. Here, at The Royal Free  NHS Foundation Trust hospitals, we are passionate about delivering the highest quality care to all our patients. In order to help us maintain this, we are looking to recruit enthusiastic, motivated and committed individuals for the position of a Chef (band 3) for BANK to work in our PPU unit.

The successful candidate will have a background in food preparation and cooking, and will have a strong knowledge of food hygiene principles and commercial experience. You will also need to be self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

If you believe you meet the criteria of the person specification and would like to join the Royal Free at this time, we would be interested in receiving your application.

        **VISA SPONSORSHIP DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS ROLE**

Main duties of the job

The Chef will be responsible for food production, with minimum waste, for staff, patients, Visitors, special functions, in the restaurant kitchen, patient kitchens, pop-ups or any other RFLPSL contracted service area as assigned.

As part of the catering team, the post holder will work under the direction of the head chef, in collaboration with other chefs and catering staff. The role will involve preparing meals from scratch, using raw ingredients and following the prescribed cooking methods. Adhering at all time to food safety regulations, health and safety, client and company policies.

 

       **For further information please refer to the attached JD/PS**

Working for our organisation

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Royal Free World Class Values:

The post holder will offer World Class Care to service users, staff, colleagues, clients and patients alike.

CULINARY DUTIES

1.Organising and controlling the efficient production and storage of quality foods and beverages according Client, RFLPSL and statutory regulations regarding hygiene, safety, allergens and cleanliness.

2.Keep the work area, equipment and personal hygiene to the highest professional standards of cleanliness, presentation, safety and sanitation.

3.Prepare, cook, label and serve food and beverages following HACCP procedures and in compliance with all legislation, client and company policies , to include completing and filing all client, company and statutory documents required, ensuring that statutory regulations, codes of practice, local policies and departmental health and safety rules are adhered to at all times without exception.

4.Ensure quality standards are achieved at all time in regards to recipe specifications, production schedules, measurements, adapting weights and measures to always provide correct meals for specified requirements.

5.Ensure that stock control and rotation procedures are maintained, minimize and document wastage and follow recipes in line with company procedures and best practice ensuring high food quality to the patients at all times to the highest standards and specifications.

6.Assist the chef team whenever time is available, checking with the head chef on any additional tasks to be completed for the day.

7.Instruct porters as necessary in the maintenance of kitchen standards and policies.

FOOD SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and fully comply with the Trust’s Hygiene Policy, uniform policy and all current food safety legislation.

2.Ensure that the first in, first out principle of stock rotation is adhered to and that attention is given to all shelf life dates, reporting to supervisors in the event that shelf life dates have expired.

3.To report immediately any sightings of pests to the supervisor or management team

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

1.To report any mechanical or safety defects and the need for repairs to the Head Chef or their deputy.

2.Working effectively as a team member within the catering department.

3.To report any accidents, near misses or incidents immediately as per the accident/ incident procedure and inform a manager.

 **For further information please refer to the attached JD/PS**

Person specification

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Excellent culinary skills
  • Effective interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to motivate a large & diverse group of staff
  • Numerate and fully computer literate
  • Excellent organisation skills, with the ability to prioritise
  • Problem solving skills and able to think on one’s feet
  • Able to apply food safety legislation in the work place

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable experience as a chef.

World Class Values

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrate ability to meet trust values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Intermediate or advanced food hygiene certificate or ability to undertake qualification.

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential criteria
  • Resilient with the ability to work under pressure
  • Able to change hours and shifts to suit the needs of the service
  • Attention to detail
  • High personal standards
  • Flexible in approach to the changing needs of the service

OTHERS

Essential criteria
  • Physically fit and able to comply with trust manual handling guidelines

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Nursing TimesApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleDisability confident employerTimewise PartnerCare Quality Commission - Requires improvementEnei MemberArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Roy Sundiram
Job title
Assistant Catering Manager (PPU)
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02077940500
Additional information

Temporary Staffing | Recruitment Services

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

PO Box 50, Civic Centre, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 3XA

Tel: 02078302065
Internal extension: 23400 option 3

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Recruitment Support
Open Monday to Friday
08:30 am to 17:30pm
Telephone
01629 702338
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