Catering Assistant / Chef Cover Opportunity

We are seeking a qualified and detail-oriented Chef / Cook to join a fast-paced patient services team at a large healthcare facility. This temporary role is essential for delivering fresh, high-quality meals to both patient feeding sectors and retail operations.

Role Overview

• Base Pay Rate: £17 an hour

• Weekend Uplifts:30% uplift for Saturday shifts / 60% uplift for Sunday shifts.

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week.

• Shift Pattern: Monday to Sunday rotation, 11:00 – 19:00.

• Contract Type: Temporary.

• Dress Code: Dark clothing (Strictly no joggers).

Key Responsibilities

• Food Production: Prepare high-standard dishes from fresh ingredients, following approved recipes for patient feeding and retail environments.

• Compliance & Safety: Ensure strict compliance with HACCP guidelines, allergen regulations, and Natasha's Law.

• Departmental Records: Maintain quality assurance logs, track food wastage metrics, and update administrative records.

• Equipment Operation: Safely utilize commercial kitchen assets including combination ovens, high-pressure steamers, Bratt pans, and mixing machinery.

• Team Leadership: Assume responsibility for the catering environment in the absence of senior kitchen management and assist with coaching relief staff.

• Logistics & Upkeep: Manage inventory deliveries, transport provisions or waste safely, and preserve a pristine workstation.

Requirements & Qualifications

Essential:

• Vetting: Must hold a valid Standard DBS check.

• Professional Cookery Trade Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery (or City & Guilds 706/2) backed by 5 years of industry trade experience, OR an NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery.

• Food Safety Standards: Valid Level 3 Food Safety Certificate alongside a Food Allergy and Intolerance Certificate.

• Physical Fitness: Suitably fit to handle manual handling tasks, moving heavy stock cages, and standing for the duration of an 8-hour shift.

• Attributes: High attention to detail, flexible, and capable of working calmly under high-pressure service deadlines.

Are you an experienced cook ready to support critical healthcare services in the Portsmouth area? Apply today for immediate consideration!

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.