About this role
Job summary
This is a role which will be key to the Trust's role as leader and influencer in South East London and to achieving Essentia's strategic ambitions. The role is highly autonomous and ultimately accountable for interpretations of legal and national catering policies and interpreting this into a deliverable strategy and operational practice that ensures GSTT sites are compliant.
The post holder will set the catering strategy, provide expert advice and deliver an operational service that covers all areas of catering including food service provision.
The role leads in all matters relating to the operational management of catering to include central production kitchen, producing 4+million patient meals annually for GSTT and external NHS contracts, retail, hospitality, sports and recreation. The post-holder will be responsible for reviewing, implementing and managing all the processes to ensure that services are delivered in accordance with Trust-wide policies and to ensure statutory compliance.
The successful candidate will possess a high level of financial acumen, leadership expertise, alongside the ability to lead catering functions to deliver operational excellence.
As one of the Essentia Leadership Team you will be required to work one weekend every 3 months and be part of the Directorates on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
Identify new opportunities for the development of the services arising from changes in the external environment or internal innovation and potential threats and ways to respond to them.
Lead a team of nearly 350 catering specialists directly employed GSTT staff.
Establish and deliver operational performance (financial and non-financial) targets against agreed service standards, including compliance with Financial & Procurement Regulations.
Continuously monitor and review services; identify and implement service, operational and financial improvements to deliver within allocated budgets, improving value for money, including being responsive to changing business needs.
Leadership Standards (Aligned to NHS Management and Leadership Framework) The post holder will demonstrate compassionate, inclusive and values-led leadership, role modelling integrity, accountability and collaboration in all decision-making and professional interactions.
The post holder will lead through clear objectives, coaching, feedback and development of others, supporting high performance and inclusive career progression across the team.
The post holder will use data, audit, incidents, complaints, feedback and lived experience to inform improvement priorities, reduce inequity and strengthen service assurance.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best-known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark
The NHS Pension Scheme - one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK. When you start working for the NHS you automatically become a member, and you will get an excellent package of pension benefits.
Interest free Season Ticket Loan
Long Term Service Awards
Subsidised on-site nurseries and childcare vouchers
A comprehensive staff health and well-being programme, '5 ways to a healthier YOU'
Ride to work scheme
Employee assistance programme
Free stop smoking service
Our Trust values: We are Caring / Ambitions / Inclusive
Job description Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews, please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Education Essential
Education to Masters degree level, alongside additional professional training and specialist knowledge of catering services leadership, acquired through training and experience. Where a qualification is not a statutory requirement, equivalent demonstrable knowledge and experience may be considered in line with Agenda for Change principles.
Desirable
Qualified to IEHO Advanced Level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and understanding.
Professionals/ Statutory Registration Essential
No statutory professional registration is specified unless required by law for a particular function. Role-specific appointments and authorisations must be supported by competence, training and formal Trust appointment under the relevant governance arrangements.
Desirable
Member of relevant professional organisation, eg. HCIMA.
Previous experience Essential
Extensive, successful track record of leading catering functions within an Estates environment. Extensive, successful track record of leadership and achievement at a senior level in a relevant large, complex environment. Experience of formulating long term, strategic plans resulting in positive value for money outcomes. Experience of organisation-wide policy development, interpreting legislative and other requirements
Desirable
Team player, able to motivate and inspire. Demonstrates inclusive, compassionate and accountable leadership, creates psychological safety, challenges discriminatory behaviour, and uses data and lived experience to improve fairness, belonging and outcomes.
Knowledge Essential
Excellent understanding and specialist knowledge of NHS catering departments. Highly developed communication skills, with ability to communicate highly complex information where exceptional influencing skills are required. Highly developed leadership skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams, and have them understand the Trust-wide and local performance expectations. Able to communicate complex technical, operational and risk information clearly to varied audiences using inclusive and accessible language.
Desirable
Team player, able to motivate and inspire. Demonstrates inclusive, compassionate and accountable leadership, creates psychological safety, challenges discriminatory behaviour, and uses data and lived experience to improve fairness, belonging and outcomes.
Skills & Abilities Essential
Extensive track record of effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholders Strong drive for performance and improvement. Proven strong written communication skills, in particular for complex drafting, and ability to produce & present effective business cases. Effective listening skills and the ability to build excellent interpersonal relationships Sound political judgment and sensitivity when dealing with stakeholders at all levels. Team player, able to motivate and inspire. Demonstrates inclusive, compassionate and accountable leadership, creates psychological safety, challenges discriminatory behaviour, and uses data and lived experience to improve fairness, belonging and outcomes
Additional Essential
Commitment to Equality and Diversity for all and with a demonstrable leadership capacity in inclusion. Demonstrates commitment to anti-racist practice, inclusive leadership and equitable treatment of colleagues and service users, including disabled, neurodivergent and other underrepresented or marginalised groups. Commitment to the Essentia Way - working together, doing it well and looking after each other.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address 200 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4YB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)