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Verified Skilled Worker sponsor

Chef

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ £28,392 – £31,157 a year Permanent Posted 4 September 2026 Apply by 15 September 2026

Home Office register entry: Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

NHS roles fall under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

1 X Chef Band 4

ATTRACTIVE ENHANCEMENT PAY FOR WEEKEND WORK

37.5 hours per week (Monday to Sunday 6.00am - 14.00pm or 11.00am-19.00pm)

The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is an expert surgical Trust, specialising in Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery and Burns.

The main purpose of the job is to provide assistance to the Head Chef and Assistant Chef and support the smooth running of the Main and Ward Kitchens. To prepare meals for patients, staff and visitors. Maintain a clean and hygienic environment in line with HACCP. Complete all compliance documentation on a daily basis. Assist to maintain the 5-Star Food Safety Hygiene Rating.

Working as part of the Catering Team you would work hard to maintain our high standards of cleanliness and customer service. Experience in a similar role would be desirable but enthusiasm and experience of working in a team are equally important.

You would enjoy a range of NHS benefits including a fantastic annual leave benefits and pension scheme. The Trust is committed to continued personal development.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for preparation and cooking of all food requirements which meet expectations in terms of quality and value for money within current legislation (HACCPS) day to day operation of catering service, including special and ethnic diets

Demonstrate a positive and professional attitude and deal with any comments or feedback with necessary actions to maintain food safety and hygiene provisions

About us

Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond.

A centre of excellence, with an international reputation for pioneering advanced techniques and treatments. Everything we do is informed by our passion for providing the highest quality care and the best clinical outcomes.

At QVH we are proud of our achievements and our specialist services continue to record excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We regularly receive excellent results from patient satisfaction surveys and on average 98% of inpatients say they would recommend the hospital to their family or friends.

Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.

Details

Date posted

04 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

276-8243177-AfC

Job locations

Queen Victoria Hospital

Holtye Road

East Grinstead

RH19 3DZ

United Kingdom


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job description

  • To ensure the highest standards in food produced, service and delivery are maintained at all times
  • To ensure all food items are stored correctly ensuring good stock rotation and temperature control
  • To maintain a high standard of cleaning in all areas in accordance with the departmental cleaning procedures
  • Maintain due diligence in all work procedures and practices throughout, for example, the preparation, cooking, service and storage stages through temperature control, high standards of personal hygiene, monitoring forms along with a clear understanding of HACCP and COSHH. Ensure all HACCP documentation is completed by the catering assistants and checked on a daily basis. This is important to ensure that the Trust achieves the highest star rating for food hygiene. Assist in the Environment Health Officer Audits to demonstrate compliance.
  • Ensure that all activities required for the preparation and distribution of food to patients, staff and visitors is met to standards expected
  • Deal with patient, staff and visitor queries and complaints escalate to The Head Chef and Assistant chef as necessary
  • Ability to display moderate effort for short periods of time when moving and handling catering equipment
  • Ensure compliance with the Safety Management System when using machinery. Report any Health and Safety related issues to the Head of Facilities.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

  • QCF Level 3 in food preparation or above, or able to demonstrate knowledge within this field through practical experience

Desirable

  • Food Safety & Hygiene Level 3

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Point (HACCP) documentation for temperatures of food, fridge freezer, cleaning processes in the kitchen
  • Relevant experience of working in a similar food preparation environment
  • Preparing/ altering menus/ costings

Desirable

  • Experience of working within an NHS catering environment

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise and organise kitchen work

Desirable

  • Stock management and ordering skills

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of and ability to prepare special diets, for example, gluten free
  • Knowledge of food allergies

Desirable

  • Knowledge of dysphagia

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Employer name

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Victoria Hospital

Holtye Road

East Grinstead

RH19 3DZ

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.qvh.nhs.uk/

Apply now

Last verified against our ingestion on 7 September 2026; sponsor register dataset 2026-08-25.