Head Chef

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy. We highly recommend reading our Tips on how to apply page to give you an insight on how applications are scored & shortlisted by our Recruiting Managers. These tips have been provided to give you a better chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies.

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are working towards merging as one organisation from July 2026.

This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Should you join NBT as an employee prior to our organisations merging, your employment will be automatically transferred across to UHBW. Should your employment begin after our two Trusts merge, you will be employed directly by UHBW and therefore UHBW terms and conditions of service will apply

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

To work in close liaison with the Patient Catering Team to ensure the Food Production Teams deliver a high quality, cost effective and efficient service consistently for patients and staff.

To carry out the main duties of the position as listed below.

Meals produced each week: 18,000

Keep within agreed budgets for

• patient meal costs
• gross profit margins for patient meals
• labour costs
  
  

Responsible for the day to day management of the chefs and kitchen assistants within patient catering, along with ensuring all Health and Safety legislation is adhered to by the chef team.

Liaising with the meal dispatch team regarding any issues or menu changes and reporting any equipment problems.

To be responsible for the security of the department with the opening and locking up of the production areas ensuring all equipment has been turned off.

This role is suitable for sponsorship

Main duties of the job

Knowledge

• A comprehensive knowledge of a large-scale catering operation, materials and equipment.
• To have a good understanding of the hospital environment and its working arrangements.
• To have a good understanding of commercial concepts to bring innovation to retail offers.
• Ability to work with management and supervisory staff to own the business and make recommendations for service improvements and have confidence to take these ideas forward.
• To be an experienced supervisor and have excellent leadership and team building skills.
• To have good communication, negotiating skills.
• To be self-motivated to set and achieve objectives with ability to manage own time effectively and efficiently.
• To have the necessary organisational and analytical skills to draw up and adapt rotas and organise optimum cover arrangements.
• Sound numerical and basic IT skills.
• Qualified to 706, 1, 2, 3 City & Guilds or NVQ 3- and 3-years’ relevant experience as a supervisor.
• Craft Training Qualification or relevant experience of mentoring and training.
• NEBSS Supervisor Certificate or equivalent experience.
• Basic Health & Safety qualification, Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate.
  
  

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Communication

Internal

• Internal communication and working relationships.
• Verbal and written communications regarding the day-to-day supervisory issues of the Catering Services.
• Catering Management.
• Staff.
• Other departments, ie Estates, Wards, Dietetics.
• Patients
  
  

External

• Companies delivering goods.
• Placing orders to companies.
• Contractors (Maintenance).
  
  

Assessment of Work

• Punctuality and regular attendance.
• Good interaction with customers and colleagues.
• Consistent achievement of main duties supported by internal and external documentation.
  
  

Supporting Documents

• Hygiene, Health & Safety Audits, Departmental Quality Assurance Audits, Food Costings, EHO Reports, Infection Control Reports, Customer Complaints, Compliments.
• In conjunction with the Catering Department management team provide effective leadership to ensure a consistently responsive and efficient catering service, maintaining team morale and encouraging a team spirit and ‘can do’ attitude.
• Co-ordinate with the Food Production Manager to ensure that adequate staffing levels are maintained, ensuring the allocation of staff duties always meet the needs of the service and work specifications.
• To provide staff with supervision, direction and support in the preparation and cooking for patients and staff ensuring that methods, procedures and service times are adhered to.
• Preparation and production of meals including specialised diets.
• To take an active role in maintaining and improving the quality of the Catering Services. To be responsible for the identification of training needs within the kitchen and the provision of any subsequent training of staff, ensuring a high calibre workforce is maintained.
• To oversee the grievance, disciplinary and welfare issues of the food production team both in the central kitchen and restaurant in liaison with the Catering management.
• To carry out individual performance reviews with production staff under the direction of the Food Production Manager.
• To deal with ward enquiries regarding patients’ meals and to visit wards and meet with ward staff and patients. This may occasionally include patients and staff who do not have English as their first language.
• To maintain a high profile and deal with any enquiries in a timely and effective manner.
• To be available for the emergency incidents call out procedure.
• To be responsible for the security of the department with the opening and locking up of the production areas ensuring all equipment has been turned off.
• To ensure standards of hygiene and work practices are adhered to within the Catering Department in accordance with Trust Policies and Procedures, including the completion of department documentation.
• To ensure the observance of safety regulations and safe operating procedures in the department.
• To be responsible for the reporting to the maintenance department of mechanical defects and the need to repairs quickly.
• At the direction of the Food Production Manager, to give sufficient close supervision and training to new or existing employees until their required standard is achieved. This includes induction on new and existing production equipment.
• To report sickness or absenteeism to his/her Food Production Manager, and conduct return to work interviews with staff and updating departmental records.
• To attend training as required and highlighted in Personal Development Plans.
• Supervisor and coach apprentice chefs.
• As part of Personal Development Programme, participate in working groups involved in the development of patient and retail services, department procedures and user groups.
• To ensure that departmental costs and gross profit targets are achieved by working to agreed production procedures and staffing levels.
• To accompany internal and external Monitoring Officers/Auditors during inspections of the department or service points and to take such actions as required addressing issues raised.
  
  

To be responsible for the security of stock and equipment in the production area, reporting any discrepancies to the Food Production Manager.

• Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which requires you to:
• Take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by your
• acts or omissions at work and to co-operate with the Trust on any matters of Health and Safety.
• You are required to acquaint yourself with, and always comply with, Trust Policies governing Health and Safety at Work. You must ensure that any accidents/incidents are reported accurately in accordance with the Trust’s procedures.
• Your responsible office and/or the Personnel Department hold copies of the Policies and Procedures
  
  

Person specification

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential criteria

• City & Guilds 706 part 1 and 2, NVQ or equivalent craft qualifications
• Degree or equivalent experience food production gained over a minimum of 5 years
• Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate
• Supervisory Skills
• Significant experience in supervising large groups of staff
• Significant and relevant experience in large scale scratch cooking methods
• Communication skills - ability to interact with staff, managers, colleagues and users of the service
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Ability to work in a busy and, at times, stressful environment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Personal hygiene, clean and tidy
• Friendly manner
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience within a cook/chill catering environment
  
  

Please note that if you apply for a position with North Bristol NHS Trust, you may be contacted via TRAC or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your TRAC Account and email accounts including junk and spam folders.

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.

North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.