# Head Chef > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-chef/dd3f2c79-240b-407f-bc81-66b535503fda - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-chef/dd3f2c79-240b-407f-bc81-66b535503fda.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Chester - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Estates and facilities - **Grade:** Band 5 - **Salary:** £32,073 - £39,043 pa - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-05-31T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-05-21T13:40:55.311Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Cheshire/Chester/Countess_Chester_Hospital_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Estates_Facilities_Catering/Estates_Facilities_Catering-v7954255 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7954255?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.coch.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### 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.​ ## Job Details 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. ## Job Description 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. ## 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.​ ## Person Specification ### Qualifications **Essential** - Level 4 (Advanced) Food Hygiene Certificate - Level 3 Food Safety or HACCP - NVQ Level 3 In Professional Cookery **Desirable** - Certificate in ILM First Line Management ### Knowledge and Experience **Essential** - Experience of large scale food production/kitchen management - Knowledge of food safety and Health & Safety Law, including HACCP and COSHH - Knowledge of special dietary meal production - Allergen aware. - Computer literate – working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications – Word, Excel and Outlook **Desirable** - Experience of using systems including ESR and E Procurement - Experience of a large multifunctional organisation/NHS - Budget planning experience ## Documents - [risk id (pdf, 352.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10234834) - [how to travel to work (pdf, 186.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2810) - [guidance notes for applicants (pdf, 278.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2608) - [job description and person specification (pdf, 215.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10234833) ## 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.