About this role
Job summary
The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth is one of the UKs leading private hospitals, renowned for exceptional patient care and a warm, welcoming environment. Our Catering Department plays a vital role in supporting patient wellbeing, delivering outstanding food that meets clinical, nutritional, and hospitality standards.
Main duties of the job
We are now seeking an experienced and inspiring Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations and elevate our culinary offering across the hospital. The Head Chef will oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring the delivery of highquality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, and visitors. You will lead a dedicated kitchen team, manage budgets, maintain compliance with food safety and healthcare regulations, and drive continuous improvement across all catering services.
About us
Located in leafy St Johns Wood on the Jubilee line, minutes from Central London, our independent private Hospital has just been rated the number one in the country for care in the latest Bupa survey. Uniquely, all profits fund our onsite Hospice, St Johns.
Job description Job responsibilities
Culinary leadership Maintain exceptional standards in food preparation, presentation, and service. Menu development Create menus aligned with nutritional guidelines, patient needs, allergens, and cultural requirements. Patient dining excellence Work with dietitians and clinical teams to support patient recovery and wellbeing. Team leadership Lead, train, and develop the kitchen brigade, ensuring a positive and highperforming culture. Food cost control Manage stock, ordering, suppliers, and budgets to maximise efficiency and minimise waste. Safety & compliance Ensure full compliance with HACCP, infection control, allergen management, and all regulatory standards. Continuous improvement Innovate menus, enhance service quality, and support audits and inspections.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
evel 3 NVQ Catering or formal chef qualification HACCP Level 2 Knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety, food safety and hygiene regulations Experience managing a professional kitchen Experience working in a healthcare setting Minimum 3 years as a Chef, including 2 years managing staff Ability to cater for large groups and varied dietary needs IT literacy (Microsoft Office, kitchen management systems) Strong leadership and teammanagement capability
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.
Employer details Employer name The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth
Address 60 Grove End Road
St John’s Wood
London
NW8 9NH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.hje.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)