About this role
Job summary Head Chef - Exciting Leadership Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and talented Head Chef to lead our award-winning team in producing high-quality, traditional, home-made food within a large-scale production kitchen. Our operation provides nutritious meals for both patients and staff, with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and innovation.
We are extremely proud of our continued success, having received multiple national and regional awards, including:
NHS England NHS Chef of the Year 2022 Public Sector Catering Hospital Catering Award 2022 NHS England NHS Chef of the Year 2025 Public Sector Catering Hospital Catering Award 2026 Public Sector Catering Caterer of the Year 2026
The Role As Head Chef, you will:
Lead and inspire a large, dynamic kitchen team Drive menu development, innovation, and food quality standards Ensure efficient, safe, and compliant kitchen operations Play a key role in maintaining and building on our award-winning reputation What We Offer In return, we offer:
The opportunity to lead within a nationally recognised, award-winning team Access to modern, high-spec kitchen equipment and facilities Ongoing training, development, and leadership support A clear career progression pathway within our organisation If you are a passionate Head Chef looking to make a real impact in a forward-thinking healthcare environment, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job Oversee kitchen organisation and stock control, ensuring quality, quantity, and correct documentation. Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and adherence to recipes for patient meals. Coordinate with catering teams, ward staff, and other departments to ensure smooth service. Monitor and record food temperatures and ensure compliance with food hygiene and safety regulations. Uphold health and safety standards, including reporting faults and enforcing security procedures. Ensure staff follow uniform and identification policies. Lead team briefings and support departmental leadership, including deputising for the Head of Patient Catering when required.
About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.
If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.
We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.
Benefits we offer to you:
Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays NHS pension scheme membership Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further NHS Staff discounts Cycle to work scheme Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice
Job description Job responsibilities
The job description gives an overview of the main tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications focusses on the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. These documents are attached on the page and can be downloaded.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification Essential
City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or similar qualification IEHO Intermediate Food Hygiene Cert / level 3 food hygiene
Desirable
N.E.B.S.M Cert or Similar Qualification Basic Health and safety cert
Knowledge Essential
Working Knowledge of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point H.A.C.C.P. Procedures Understanding of Food Science and Safety Systems Understanding of cleaning and monitoring systems
Desirable
Financial Awareness and Business Acumen
Experience Essential
Experience of planning, organising and controlling of resources across an acute hospital patient feeding function Demonstrate desire and ability to promote implement and sustain change Proven track record in problem solving Minimum of two years experience as Senior Supervisor/Head Chef in similar large scale organisation and ability to analyse complex situations and make decisions leading to positive action
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 Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Poplar Grove
Stockport
SK2 5EA
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)