Location
Chester, England
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 pa
Profession
Estates and facilities
Grade
Band 5
Deadline
31 May 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
21 May 2026

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Job overview

Working Full time - 37.5 hours per week

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join the Catering Services Team for the role of Head Chef. You will support the Head of Catering Services and manage the catering team within the department, producing the finest quality food for our patients and staff as well as delivering excellent customer service.

We are looking for an individual who has achieved a good grounding within the catering business, but would like to further develop and become proficient in all aspects of managing a busy Catering Service within an NHS Hospital.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

The Catering Department is a busy and multi-functional area of the Hospital, providing meals for patients and staff and meeting the Hospitality Services/Catering requirements for the wider Trust customers.

The successful candidate will have achieved good grounding within the Catering Industry, preferably educated to advanced certificate or diploma level minimum NVQ Qualification (Level 3) have relevant equivalent experience. You should have strong time-management and leadership skills and be able to prioritise and delegate well. The role requires a good working knowledge of computer software including Word, Excel and strong, demonstrable skills in all aspects of administration.

The role extends to the catering provision of our Ellesmere Port Hospital and its patients and will require regular visits to the hospital to ensure catering standards are being delivered and consistently met. A full driving license will be required in order to facilitate the management of this particular objective and this aspect of the role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.​

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.​

Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Head Chef with Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Chester, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Estates and facilities role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 pa. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 31 May 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (21 May 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.