Head Chef

at  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Supervising the day-to-day operation of food production, with particular emphasis on allocating work according to work specifications and maintaining high standards of food production and hygiene. To prepare, cook and serve meals to patients, staff, visitors and special functions. The post holder will be able to work without supervision at the stated place of work, complete HACCP documents, complete rotas and work to the required standards.
This posting will be Monday to Friday but with the availability to pick up shifts at weekends as additional duty may be required to cover sickness or leave

To comply with departmental procedures, security, food deliveries, training, recording of statistics and make decisions when necessary.

• Assist the Food Production & Development Manager and the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager in the supervision, direction, work allocation and control of staff and their work in the department.
• In the absence of the Food Production & Development Manager and the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager, to be responsible for the production and the day to day maintenance of the weekly rotas to ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained at all times.
• Supervision, direction and control of food preparation, cooking & storage.
• Ordering of daily food commodities – i.e. fresh vegetables, milk & bread.
• Use your skills and knowledge for the correct economic use of all products, materials and equipment.
• Ensure that expensive equipment is used in a safe and economical manner by chefs and yourself.
• Checking meals issued for quality, quantity and presentation.
• Work to very strict timetables in temperature-changing conditions.
• Ensure that cleaning schedules are maintained, monitored and recorded on a regular basis.
• Ensure consistent use of standardised recipes.
• Any other duties consistent with the nature of the job as might be requested by management to meet the needs of the catering service as a whole.

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

Liaise with staff members with regard to rotas, work allocation.

• Liaising with Food Production & Development Manager and the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager, Ward Staff, Senior Catering Supervisor, Catering Supervisors, Maintenance Staff, Transport, Porters and Dieticians.
• Ensuring that the high standards of kitchen hygiene are maintained at all times, particularly with regard to the safe handling of food, personal hygiene and dress.
• Assist less experienced staff with training and development. Provide adequate instruction and training in all aspects of departmental procedure.
• Responsible to ensuring that all documentation relating to individual training records is maintained.
• Temperature probing of meals and the recording of temperatures in accordance with department policies, ensuring all HACCP critical control points are recorded for each dish produced.
• Plan daily work schedules to the department’s meal service time. When necessary, adjust food service staff rotas in the absence of Food Production & Development Manager and the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager.
• Collation of statistics relating to the ordering and preparation of food. Assist the Food Production & Development Manager and the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager in the ordering of goods as appropriate.

Please refer the Job description for details