Chef

Job overview

The Darwin Centre for Young People is a Tier 4 adolescent inpatient unit based in Cambridge. The unit offers assessment and treatment to young people, aged 13-17 (until 18th birthday), experiencing psychiatric, emotional or psychological problems that interfere with their social, interpersonal and educational functioning.

Are you someone who is experienced in the cooking and catering industry that is looking for a new challenge?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to work within our service. You will play a pivotal role in the team providing snacks, freshly cooked meals, and managing all other aspects of the kitchen.

We will provide management supervision, training, and there will be opportunities for development of the role.

Main duties of the job

To carry out the preparation and cooking of meals for patients, staff and visitors ensuring that high standards and quality and safety are maintained at all times. Working in accordance with departmental procedures and food safety legislation.

The chef will have a commitment to the highest standards and take full responsibility for ensuring safe food hygiene and health & safety practices are observed at all times.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Preparation and cooking of all meals and menu items including special diets in accordance with the standard recipes and agreed menus.
2. Ensure that all dishes are properly cooked and attractively presented, advise and assist with service as required.
3. Undertake food preparation and service in the restaurant areas to include order service, special dishes on theme days and for any other special event as required.
4. Practice good levels of stock rotation and correct storage of all the perishable items ensuring that all refrigerated and frozen items are stored at the correct temperatures and are dated.
5. Handling of food products in accordance with food hygiene legislation and the Trust Food Safety Policy (HACCP).
6. Complete quality assurance and departmental food safety/HACCP monitoring or recording as required.
7. Work at all times in a clean and tidy manner ensuring strict adherence to food hygiene and safety regulations.
8. Cooking of foods to the highest standards. Working to the strict hygiene requirements as laid down or required.
9. Ensuring the highest standards of personal and working hygiene practices.
10. Ensure the correct and economical use of materials and equipment is carried out. Report to the manager any item of foodstuff considered by the post holder to be unsuitable for use.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Catering 706 1&2 or equivalent

• COSHH
• Lifting & Handling

Experience

• The hygienic handling of food products in accordance with food hygiene legislation
• Taking and recording of temperatures
• Stock Control
• Menu planning

Knowledge & Skills

• Good communication skills
• Time management skills
• Able to work under pressure

Personal Qualities

• Able to follow written instructions

• Able to work with no supervision

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children and young people’s mental health services;
• Children’s community services in Peterborough;
• Social care;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity.

CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.

Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a ‘Red List’ country.

Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.

If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.

All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.