At a Glance
- Tasks: Supervise food production and manage kitchen teams in a busy hospital environment.
- Company: Join a dedicated team providing high-quality catering services in healthcare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic kitchen environment with a focus on teamwork and patient care.
- Why this job: Make a difference by serving nutritious meals to patients in need.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Food Hygiene and experience in large-scale catering.
The predicted salary is between 28392 - 31157 £ per year.
We are looking for candidates who are well organized, excellent communicators and are adaptable to both working in a high pressure environment and pace of a busy kitchen in both our West Suffolk main hospital site and our Community Hospital at Newmarket. Candidates must have good attention to detail, able to work alone and be able to manage their time effectively.
Responsibilities
- To be jointly responsible for the supervision and efficient organisation of the food production team.
- To line manage the Kitchen Portering Team.
- To plan Roster and staff accordance with safe staffing levels and workloads.
- To ensure that hygiene, food safety, food quality standards and safe working practices are adhered to within designated sections.
- Maintain records of attendance, input overtime on the Trusts Health Roster System.
- To work as part of a team providing a safe, high quality catering service for the Trust.
- To prepare and serve high quality nutritious food in accordance with the departments standard recipes, using fresh ingredients.
- To be able to maintain prolonged concentration when preparing and cooking several different dishes in a busy and pressured environment while supervising others.
- To have a good understanding and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to HACCP and COSSH and follow the departments Food hygiene practices.
- To have knowledge and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to IDDSI and follow this patient safety guidance.
- To offer guidance to ward staff in the absence of dietetic support (out of hours) with specific regard to allergen, consistency and dietary requirements for patients within the Trust.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
- NVQ Level 3 Food hygiene certificate or RIPHH qualification.
- City and Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ level 3.
- Knowledge of IDDSI.
- Dietary/nutrition training.
Experience & Knowledge
- Good understanding of HACCP, COSSH and Health and Safety legislation.
- Previous catering experience specifically in large scale service.
Skills & Abilities
- Good customer care and communication skills.
- Basic skills in literacy & numeracy.
- Able to work either alone or as part of a team.
- Able to work under pressure.
- Able to work in a demanding environment.
- Adaptable to change.
- Able to work in a Hospital ward environment.
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties.
- Interest in cooking/catering.
- Self-motivated.
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.
£28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum pro rata.
Assistant Head Cook employer: Job Search Place Limited
Join our dedicated team as an Assistant Head Cook, where you will thrive in a supportive and dynamic work environment across our West Suffolk main hospital and Community Hospital at Newmarket. We prioritise employee growth with opportunities for training in food safety and nutrition, while fostering a culture of teamwork and excellence in providing high-quality catering services. Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working hours, and the satisfaction of making a meaningful impact on patient care through nutritious meal preparation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Head Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the kitchen culture! Before your interview, check out the hospital's catering services online. Understanding their menu and values can help you connect with the team and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! Since you'll be supervising a team, being able to clearly express your ideas and listen to others is key. Try role-playing common kitchen scenarios with a friend to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your adaptability! In your interview, share examples of how you've thrived in high-pressure situations before. This will demonstrate that you can handle the fast-paced environment of a busy kitchen.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows initiative and gives us a chance to get to know you better right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Head Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Organisational Skills:Make sure to highlight your ability to stay organised, especially in a busy kitchen environment. We want to see how you manage your time and tasks effectively, so share examples of how you've juggled multiple responsibilities before.
Communicate Clearly:Since communication is key in our kitchens, use your application to demonstrate your excellent communication skills. Whether it's through your writing style or by sharing experiences where you’ve successfully worked with a team, let us know how you connect with others.
Attention to Detail is Crucial:We love candidates who pay attention to detail! Make sure to mention any specific experiences where your keen eye for detail made a difference, whether it’s in food safety practices or maintaining high-quality standards.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re tech-savvy and ready to embrace our digital approach.
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of HACCP, COSHH, and IDDSI. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the standards but can apply them in a busy kitchen environment.
✨Show Off Your Organisational Skills
Prepare to talk about how you manage time and resources in a high-pressure setting. Have examples ready where you successfully organised a team or handled multiple tasks at once, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since excellent communication is key, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you would explain food safety practices or dietary requirements to ward staff, especially when dietetic support isn’t available.
✨Demonstrate Adaptability
Be ready to share experiences where you adapted to changes in a fast-paced environment. Whether it’s adjusting menus or managing staffing levels, showing that you can pivot quickly will impress the interviewers.
