Weekend Chef

Are you looking for a Weekend chef role where you can be creative and work with a dedicated team?

Are you looking for a Weekend chef role where you can be creative and work with a dedicated team? If so, join Thornford Park. This position will ideally be working both Saturday and Sunday; however, we are open to the possibility of a job share.

As a crucial part of the kitchen team, you’ll play a vital role in crafting daily meals for service users, staff and visitors. Dive into food preparation and elevate your role by providing guidance and training to your peers.

There are regular activities, events and special occasions throughout the year which you’ll also cater for – World Food day, Christmas, Easter, Family Day and many more. In other words, plenty of chance to be creative and do something different.

It’s a calm and pleasurable working environment, where you’ll be able to manage your workload and enjoy creating delicious meals. There’s a great social aspect to this role where you can interact with people outside the kitchen regularly.

As a Weekend Chef You Will Be

• Supporting the Head Chef for the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Maintaining good food storage procedures and stock rotation according to established procedures
• Preparing, planning and cooking meals to a consistently high standard, taking account of any special requests or dietary requirements within the unit
• Serving service users, staff and visitors with food and beverage in a professional and courteous services manner
• Preparing and producing foods for conferences and banquets
• Participating in food costings through effective cost control procedures
• Adhering to the ‘Safer Food Better Business’ standards and record keeping
• Adhering strictly to Food Hygiene Regulations and other safety procedures at all times
• Taking full shift responsibility for the catering operation
• Assisting the Head Chef by researching and creating new menus ensuring meals are of a high quality and compliment healthy eating guidelines

Correctly filling of all paperwork in relation to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system (HACCP) i.e. Fridge temperatures, food temperature logs and cleaning schedules

To Be Successful In This Role, You'll Need

• To be 18 years or older
• GCSE or equivalent English
• City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 (or equivalent) Basic Food Preparation Cooking
• Basic Food Hygiene (essential)
• Intermediate Food hygiene (desirable)
• Previous experience in a similar environment
• Previous experience in delivering a service on mass
• Menu planning, costing, ordering, stock control and budget experience
  
  

Where You Will Be Working

Thornford Park is a 141 bed hospital set within 21 acres of Berkshire countryside, offering a seamless care pathway across medium and low secure services, psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), and rehabilitation flats. The site supports men and women with complex Mental Health needs, Personality Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Autism—often with histories of offending or previous placement challenges.

Services Include

• Medium & Low Secure Units for acute and long-term care
• PICUs for individuals in psychiatric crisis
• Older Adult Services with age-appropriate, holistic interventions
• Specialist Learning Disability & Autism Pathways with integrated secure settings and step-down flats
  
  

You’ll be part of a recovery-focused, multidisciplinary team helping people move safely toward greater independence. Thornford Park is easily accessible via Thatcham train station, with shuttle transport available.

Location: Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 8ET

What You’ll Get

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• Annual base salary of £27,820 (Pro Rata)