Chef Manager in Stevenage

We are recruiting for a Chef Manager who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients. The Chef Manager is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the kitchen operations, including menu development, food preparation, staff management, stock ordering and control, and ensuring an exceptional dining experience for patients, staff, and visitors. This role combines culinary expertise, leadership, and a passion for high-quality food and service. The Chef Manager oversees the kitchen's efficiency and adherence to food safety and health and safety standards.

You will establish and develop key working relationships with the Food Production Manager, Compliance Officer, Supervisors, Ward managers, Housekeepers, Administrators, Chefs, and Catering staff. If successful, candidates will be offered an interview and subjected to a trade test; you will be given a basic recipe to prepare and cook. You must bring suitable chef whites to change into.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job:

• Manage and control resources effectively in accordance with the Trust's SFI's/SO's and other policies.
• Participate in training as appropriate and put your skills and knowledge into practice.
• Ensure that all staff carry out their duties in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner in accordance with agreed employment policies.
• Assist the Food Production Manager to ensure that your staff receive sufficient and appropriate induction and training to undertake the tasks required of them and evaluate the effectiveness of this.
• Provide corrective coaching as appropriate.

About us: At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now. We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients.

Person Specification (ESSENTIAL):

• Good standard of general education.
• Professional cookery L3 or equivalent qualifications.
• Level 3 food safety.
• Previous Catering experience at supervisory/team leader level in large scale production in a healthcare/hospital environment.
• Previous experience of training staff.
• Experience of Catering as a chef using cook from scratch methods.
• Strong knowledge of different food preparation techniques.
• General administration procedures.
• Knowledge of Roster Management.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations e.g. HACCP and FSA requirements.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and ability to use email, internet etc.
• Excellent communications skills to enable effective communications at all levels.
• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work efficiently.
• Ability to liaise with catering staff on daily tasks.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety requirements relating to catering services.
• Ability to deal with non-routine situations and queries.
• Ability to work effectively with others, working towards the common goal of the team.
• Ability to use initiative.
• Ability to train others.
• Confident to give catering staff advice and guidance and able to deal calmly and effectively with complaints.
• Health and Safety / Risk Assessment training or willingness to undertake.
• Experience of appraisal / performance reviews.
• Previous experience of working within the catering sector in the NHS.

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.