About this role
Job summary
To prepare and cook food to a consistently high standard for distribution across various areas of the hospital site, ensuring that all meals meet user expectations. To maintain high standards of food hygiene, safety, and presentation at all times. To support Supervisors and Managers in ensuring that kitchen resources, including staff, equipment, preparation areas, and food supplies, are used efficiently and cost-effectively to deliver a high-quality catering service.
Main duties of the job
Prepare specified menuitems and recipesin the correctquantities to meetthe requirements ofpatients, staff, andother service users. Ensure raw, chilled, and cooked ingredientsare prepared anddistributed in accordancewith specified requirementsto meet patient, staff, and end-user needs. Carry out foodpreparation and cookingactivities with care, professionalism, and attentionto detail, ensuringfood maintains itsnutritional value andis safe andsuitable for patientand customer consumption. Assist in maintainingkitchen equipment andfood preparation areasto ensure theyremain safe, clean, and operationally efficient. Ensure the correctraw materials andfood ingredients areused in thepreparation and cookingof meals inaccordance with recipesand quality standards. Monitor and rotatestocks of rawmaterials, cook-chillproducts, and otherfoodstuffs using appropriatestock control proceduresto minimise waste, prevent deterioration,and maintain foodquality. Comply with alldepartmental policies,procedures, and workingpractices, ensuring theyare understood andconsistently applied. Support the effective management of operational costs by using resources efficiently while maintaining a high-quality catering service that meets customer and organisational requirements.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description Job responsibilities
Ensure specified menuitems, recipes, andthe correct quantitiesof food areprepared and availableto meet therequirements of patients, staff, and otherend users. Ensure raw, chilled, and cooked ingredientsare prepared anddistributed in accordancewith specified standardsand customer requirements. Carry out foodpreparation and cookingduties with professionalismand attention todetail, ensuring foodretains its nutritionalvalue and issafe and suitablefor patient andcustomer consumption. Assist in maintainingkitchen facilities, equipment, and food preparationareas to ensurethey operate efficientlyand safely. Ensure the correctraw materials andfood ingredients areused in thepreparation and cookingof meals. Rotate stocks ofraw materials, cook-chill products, andother food itemsusing appropriate stockcontrol procedures tominimise waste, damage, and deterioration. Understand, follow, andimplement all departmentalpolicies, procedures, andsafe working practices. Assist in controllingoperational costs whilemaintaining high-qualitycatering services thatmeet customer needs. Identify opportunities forcost savings andsupport their implementationwhere appropriate. Accompany the CateringManager on wardvisits when required. Work flexibly acrossall kitchen areasunder appropriate guidanceand supervision. Undertake any otherduties appropriate tothe role asrequired. Report for dutypunctually in aclean and tidyuniform, wearing thecorrect footwear, andmaintain a highstandard of personalhygiene at alltimes. Attend all mandatorytraining and refreshercourses as required. Assist with serving customers in the restaurant and at functions when required.
Person Specification
NVQ/ HND - Cookery Essential
NVQ/ HND Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 GCSE English Allergen Training
Desirable
HACCP Customer Service Training GCSE English
GCSE -- English Essential
GCSE - English - Grade 4 or above
Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 Essential
Food Hygiene Level 2 or above
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 Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bedford
Bedford
MK42 9DG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)