About this role
Job summary
As Head Chef, youll take full ownership of the kitchen operation, delivering exceptional food and leading a motivated team. Your responsibilities will include:
Leading and inspiring the catering team to deliver outstanding food and service Overseeing production of patient, staff, and hospitality meals Supporting with the designing of menus, including specialist diets and seasonal offerings Supporting with the managing of budgets, stock control, and cost efficiency Ensuring strict compliance with food safety, HACCP, and health & safety regulations Maintaining excellent kitchen standards, hygiene, and cleanliness Driving continuous improvement across catering services Collaborating with clinical and front-of-house teams for a seamless service
Main duties of the job
Were looking for an inspiring Head Chef to lead our catering team at The Horder Centre - a respected healthcare environment where food quality directly impacts patient wellbeing, staff satisfaction, and visitor experience.
This is more than a leadership role in the kitchen, its an opportunity to shape nutritious, high-quality dining that makes a genuine difference every day.
About us
Horder Healthcare has been committed to caring since 1954 when we were called 'The Horder Centre for Arthritis'. We've come a long way since then. Our consultants are amongst the most skilled, experienced and innovative in their field. Our staff love to work here, so it makes sense that our patient outcomes are in the top 99%.
We have grown into a multi-service healthcare provider, with hospitals in Crowborough and East Grinstead, and outreach clinics in Eastbourne and Seaford. We are committed to making a positive impact to the health of individuals and the communities in which we work.
Not only have we developed an international reputation for orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care, our partnership with The McIndoe Centre - the birthplace of pioneering plastic surgery treatments, means that we can deliver high-quality plastic, reconstructive, maxillofacial, ophthalmology and orthopaedic services from world-class consultants to an even greater number of people.
We know that our working lives are fundamental to emotional wellbeing. Our employees are as valuable to us as our patients and we see it as our duty to nurture an engaged and skilled workforce. To do this we ensure employees have access to training and development opportunities as well as being a flexible and diverse workplace.
We are committed to caring, and committed to you.
Job description Job responsibilities
Were looking for an inspiring Head Chef to lead our catering team at The Horder Centre - a respected healthcare environment where food quality directly impacts patient wellbeing, staff satisfaction, and visitor experience.
This is more than a leadership role in the kitchen, its an opportunity to shape nutritious, high-quality dining that makes a genuine difference every day.
What Youll Be Doing
As Head Chef, youll take full ownership of the kitchen operation, delivering exceptional food and leading a motivated team. Your responsibilities will include:
Leading and inspiring the catering team to deliver outstanding food and service Overseeing production of patient, staff, and hospitality meals Supporting with the designing of menus, including specialist diets and seasonal offerings Supporting with the managing of budgets, stock control, and cost efficiency Ensuring strict compliance with food safety, HACCP, and health & safety regulations Maintaining excellent kitchen standards, hygiene, and cleanliness Driving continuous improvement across catering services Collaborating with clinical and front-of-house teams for a seamless service About You
Youre a confident and experienced chef with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering high standards.
Essential:
City & Guilds 706 Level 2 / NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) Food Safety Level 2 certification Proven experience supervising catering teams Experience managing budgets and controlling costs Strong understanding of special diets and nutrition Excellent organisational, communication, and admin skills Flexible, reliable, and customer-focused approachDesirable:
Higher-level food safety or health & safety qualifications Experience in healthcare or similar environmentsLocation: The Horder Centre, Crowborough
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Shift Pattern: 5 days out of 7 Monday to Sunday: - shift times vary from 6:30am - 2:30pm I 7:00am - 3pm I 10:30am - 6:30pm I 6:30am - 6:30pm
Salary: up to £33,891.00 per annum, depending on experience + shift enhancements
Right to work in the UK
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencing employment. We have assessed this role and it does not meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. As such, we will not be accepting any visa sponsorships for this role, and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK independently, without sponsorship from Horder Healthcare.
At Horder Healthcare, we are proud to champion and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in all areas of our business. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to protected characteristics by applicable law.
As a disability confident employer, we are pleased to offer our full support should you require an alternative method of applying or any reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process.
In order to streamline our recruitment process, we reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
Due to the nature of work here at Horder Healthcare, and to ensure that we remain committed to our Safeguarding policy, any applicant upon an initial offer of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check). References and Occupational Health checks will also be taken up before appointment.
Person Specification
About you Essential
Youre a confident and experienced chef with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering high standards.
Essential:
City & Guilds 706 Level 2 / NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) Food Safety Level 2 certification Proven experience supervising catering teams Experience managing budgets and controlling costs Strong understanding of special diets and nutrition Excellent organisational, communication, and admin skills Flexible, reliable, and customer-focused approach
Desirable
Higher-level food safety or health & safety qualifications Experience in healthcare or similar environments
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Horder Healthcare
Address Horder Healthcare
Crowborough
TN6 1XP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.horderhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)