Job summary
- Main area
- Catering
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent: Full time
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 427-7822078
- Employer
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- RUH
- Town
- Bath
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/03/2026 08:00
Employer heading
Duty Chef
Band 4
Job overview
Are you a passionate Chef with a flair for large‑scale catering and a drive to make a real difference?
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic chef to join our Catering team at the RUH, helping us deliver fresh, nutritious and high‑quality meals to patients, staff and visitors across the Trust.
In this key role, you will bring your leadership experience and strong communication skills to a busy, supportive team environment. You’ll work closely with catering colleagues, ward teams, patients and senior leaders across the organisation—playing a central role in ensuring our service runs smoothly and to the highest standard.
We’re looking for someone who is conscientious, motivated and committed to continuous improvement. You’ll support the catering management team in implementing new practices and procedures, ensuring all kitchen staff are well‑equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to deliver great service every day.
You’ll also take an active role in menu development, contributing your culinary expertise to create menus that are exciting, balanced and nutritious—while working within departmental resources. Our menus champion sustainability, using local and seasonal ingredients and aligning with the Trust’s Food and Drink Strategy.
As a key member of the team, you will help shape the future of the department, contributing to ongoing development and resilience planning to ensure our service remains sustainable and fit for the future.
If you’re a confident leader with a passion for great food and a commitment to improving patient experience, we’d love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
To manage the production and service of approximately 2,500 high quality meals each day, ensuring the production is efficient and economical within the operational frameworks and available resources of the catering department at all times.
To communicate effectively with all catering staff, ward staff, catering management and senior staff/managers across the Trust.
To work with the catering management team to ensure that the catering services are continually reviewed and developed in order to seek the highest possible operational standards.
Patient menu development, implementing new dishes and creating recipes.
Ensure food production conforms to the catering departments ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System.
Continually promote and work towards compliance of the National Standard and of the Trusts Food and Drink Strategy.
Working for our organisation
At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone’s contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.
We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.
We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks – celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.
A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.
We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We’ve even got a pool!
We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we’re providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.
Person specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Basic Literacy & Numeracy Skills
- Good understanding of allergens and HACCP
- Large scale catering supervisory experience
- Experience of NHS
Desirable criteria
- Allergens awareness Level 2
- Basic computer skills
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good level of education to O'Level or GCSE / Basic Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 / Good communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate Level 3 / Previous experience in a healthcare setting
interpersonal skills
Essential criteria
- Good communication at all levels / Good understanding of Health & Safety and Infection Control
Desirable criteria
- Supervisory management in a healthcare setting / Proficiency in Microsoft Word & Excel
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lee Johnston
- Job title
- Catering Projects/Food Production Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01225 821695
List jobs with Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust in Support Services or all sectors