Job summary*To lead within the kitchen team for the Catering Service.*To ensure all food produced in the dept meets the expected standard of specification as agreed with the management team.*To ensure food services meet Exacting required standards.*To be responsible for catering staff and carry out one to one monthly meetings with each kitchen staff member and report relevant findings back to Head Chef or Catering Manager.*To provide training and ensure staffs training is up to date.*To maintain staffing levels and negotiate with staff to cover for sickness and annual leave.*To meet delegated budgetary expectations.*To ensure equipment is maintained.*Responsible for Health & Safety in the kitchen.*To liaise with patients and relatives.*To ensure chefs are maintaining the tray weights required for each dish.*To ensure food waste is being collected and recorded in line with local procedure.*To ensure all kitchen paperwork is being recorded, on Fridge freezer temps, cleaning schedules, batch codes and recipe due diligence forms and ETI probes are being used correctly and recorded.*To ensure blast chillers are being used correctly, times and temps recorded and food only released to labelling and lidding when sufficiently frozen.Main duties of the jobAssist stores staff to raise orders for food deliveries and authorise orders and requisitions from stores as per stores policy, ensure all orders for menus are raised and placed with suppliers in line with stores procedures using telephone, fax and computer systems on a daily basis. On receipt of goods ensure they comply with trust standards and food hygiene regulations, and stored as per trust SSTK guidelines.Ensure stock control is kept to agreed levels.Work to correct standards of cleanliness and hygiene adhering to standards in simply safe guidelines ensuring principals of hazard analysis are followed.To ensure recordings of production history sheets are maintained and also recorded on hand probes, fridge and freezer temperatures via jelly packs, Hot food and Blast chilling temperatures are taken and put onto SSTK forms on a daily basis and kept on file for 3 months. Work with Administration staff to ensure electronic records are kept for HACCP using the designated system in place, check all temperature records each morning from the previous days production run.Carry out quality control checks by testing of dishes and ingredients as needed, and the portion sizes given on a daily basis, Taste and visually conduct quality control checks on all food to ensure standard of taste and presentation is maintained before service and visit wards daily to ensure food being served is still at its optimum quality.About usSouthern Health is one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK, specialising in mental health and learning disabilities, as well as offering physical health community-based services.With a workforce of more than 7000 and a footprint that spans more than 200 sites across Hampshire, we're wholeheartedly committed to providing the best possible healthcare, reaching a range of diverse communities, whilst placing patients and staff at the forefront of all our endeavours.We are currently working closely with other NHS Trusts to integrate all our collective community, mental health, and learning disability services. Our new organisation, to be known as Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, is set to launch in July 2024.The transformation will happen in staggered stages; Hampshire CAMHS, part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust joined Southern Health in February 2024, with Isle of Wight NHS Trust mental health and community services transitioning in early May 2024. The final combination of Southern Health and Solent Trusts is anticipated to occur in July 2024, when the new organisation will be formed.Our new Trust will continue to cater to the unique needs of different communities, making healthcare across the county more accessible, as well as offering staff more opportunities for career development, training and partnership working.Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to shape the future of healthcare in Hampshire.Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesFurther information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached.We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssentialMinimal City & Guilds 706/2 or equivalent NVQ level 2 in food preparationBasic Food Hygiene CertificateIntermediate Food Hygiene CertificateLevel 4 food hygieneFull UK driving licenceExperienceEssentialCooking in Large Kitchen environmentsCreating and Cooking for special dietsExperience of working in a constantly changing environmentPrevious Hospital/Rest Home experienceAdditional CriteriaEssentialAbility to instruct staff and use initiative within the sphere of responsibility.Being flexible and adaptable at work in order to meet competing priorities.Computer literateGood communication skillsAbility to work as part of a close knit teamSelf MotivatedLiterate and Numerate in EnglishMust understand COSSH regulationsUnderstanding of infection control procedures and health and safetyUnderstanding of personal health and safety responsibilitiesKnowledge of Data Protection/confidentialityDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Employer detailsEmployer nameSouthern Health NHS Foundation TrustAddressGosport War Memorial HospitalBury RoadGosportHampshirePO12 3PWEmployer's websitehttps://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)