# Assistant Chef > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/assistant-chef/0fae069a-735d-413b-8974-3b9f44544d19 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/assistant-chef/0fae069a-735d-413b-8974-3b9f44544d19.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** Southend University Hospital - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Chef - **Grade:** Band 2 - **Salary:** £25,272 Per annum ( pro-rata for part time) - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Part time, Flexible working, 30 hours per week (Flexible) - **Closing date:** 2026-09-20T22:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-09-04T12:02:59.071Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Essex/Basildon/Mid_South_Essex_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Catering/Catering-v8212120 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8212120?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.southend.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Chef to join our Catering Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of high-quality meals for patients, staff and visitors while contributing to an excellent dining experience within a healthcare environment. The Assistant Chef will assist with the preparation, cooking and presentation of a wide range of meals, including therapeutic and special diets, ensuring all food is produced to the highest standards of quality, nutrition and food safety. The post holder will play a key role in maintaining excellent hygiene standards, adhering to HACCP requirements and supporting the smooth day-to-day operation of the kitchen and associated catering areas. The successful candidate will have a passion for food, excellent teamwork skills and a commitment to delivering outstanding customer service. You will be required to work flexibly across restaurant, patient feeding and hospitality services, whilst helping to minimise waste, promote sustainable practices and contribute to the continuous improvement of Catering Services. This role offers the opportunity to make a positive difference to the experience of patients, staff and visitors through the provision of safe, nutritious and high-quality food within Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. No VISA sponsorship available for this role Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications. ### Main duties of the job The Assistant Chef is responsible for supporting the delivery of an efficient, high-quality catering service for patients, staff and visitors. The role involves preparing, cooking and presenting meals, including therapeutic and special diets, in accordance with agreed menus, recipes and food safety standards. The post holder will contribute to the smooth day-to-day operation of the kitchen by maintaining high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety, completing required HACCP documentation and ensuring the safe use of catering equipment. The Assistant Chef will also support restaurant, hospitality and patient feeding services, helping to deliver a positive customer experience while maintaining effective stock control, minimising waste and promoting sustainable working practices. The role requires a flexible and proactive approach, working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure catering services meet operational requirements and support the continuous improvement of service quality and efficiency across the Trust. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description. We look forward to your application. Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications. ### Applicant requirements The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions. ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Experience working within a kitchen - Experience of working within a team **Desirable** - NHS Experience - Experience working in Catering or retail ### Qualifications **Essential** - Good Level of general education incl, English and Maths GCSE - Level 2 Food safety NVQ equivalent ## Documents - [assistant chef (pdf, 848.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10519557) - [privacy policy (pdf, 441.0kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2077) - [afc pay poster 26/27 (pdf, 44.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2504) - [behaviours framework (jpg, 298.0kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2880) - [trust 10 year strategy (pdf, 2.1mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2947) - [applicant ms teams checklist (pdf, 560.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2943) - [general statements afc - v5.2 (pdf, 592.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2979) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.