Chef jobs

Vacancy Reference Number:

OKMC/PR/UK-R1

Position title:

The Open Kitchen Manchester Chef

Reports to:

UK Programmes Manager

Location:

Manchester

Hours of Work:

Part-time, 18- hours per week

Thursday - Sunday (4-Days per week)

Salary guideline:

(Up to) £18.03 per hour which is equivalent to £15,000.00 per annum (commensurate with experience)

Terms of Employment:

12-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 6-Month Probationary Period)

Application Process & Closing Date:

Send an up to date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 6th March 2026

Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):

Interviews: As Suitable Applications Received

Start: ASAP thereafter

Note: Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date.

Role: Open Kitchen Chef

About the Project

The Open Kitchen is a community-led initiative tackling food poverty and social isolation across the UK. Our kitchens, based in Hounslow (London), Nottingham, and Manchester, provide free, hot, and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by homelessness, low income, or displacement as refugees.

Operating seven days a week, the Open Kitchen offers more than just food it provides a safe, welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Each kitchen also serves as a community support hub, distributing essential household items and sleeping bags to those in need.

Through this initiative, we aim not only to alleviate hunger but also to connect service users with pathways to stability, empowerment, and independence.

Key Responsibilities

As part of the Open Kitchen project team, the role will involve ensuring the smooth, safe, and impactful operation of Open Kitchen Manchester.

To lead the delivery of Muslim Hands’s free hot meal provision and structured cooking Facilities , ensuring that local communities can access nutritious hot meals in a safe, welcoming environment while also learning essential cooking skills to make everyday meals from food parcel ingredients. This role will directly contribute to reducing food insecurity, building confidence, and promoting independence among beneficiaries.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee day-to-day activities within Open Kitchen Manchester, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals.
• Plan, prepare, and cook hot meals for O.K’s free weekday lunch meals.
• Ensure all meals are healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and prepared in line with food safety and hygiene regulations.

•  Cooking with and preserving large quantities of surplus food.

• Supervise and observe the cooking facility to ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
• Manage food inventory, kitchen supplies, and procurement processes to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
• Ensure all food standards are followed.

• Train, and supervise volunteers to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to health and safety standards.
• Design and deliver weekly cooking classes for small groups, teaching participants how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals using food parcel items.
• Taking responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and all policies relating to hot meals operations .
• Work collaboratively with volunteers, supporting their development and ensuring they are engaged meaningfully in meal preparation and delivery.
• Participant in staff meetings where required.
•  Attend training and professional development sessions.
• •Any other ad-hoc tasks as require by your line-manager.

What We're Looking For

• A genuine commitment to serving vulnerable and destitute individuals with care and respect.
• Right to work in the UK and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check, completed before starting the role.
• Warm interpersonal skills, comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life.
• A dependable, team-oriented attitude and availability for weekend shifts.

Essential skills and experience:

• Professional cooking ability – proven experience preparing nutritious, balanced, and culturally appropriate meals at scale.
• Food safety & hygiene knowledge – Level 2 (or higher) Food Hygiene certificate and thorough understanding of health and safety regulations in kitchens.
• Menu planning & organisation – ability to plan and deliver hot meals within budget and using surplus food creatively.
• Teaching and facilitation skills – experience delivering group cooking sessions, workshops, or training in a practical, engaging way.
• Communication skills – approachable, clear communicator able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Nutritional awareness – knowledge of affordable, healthy meal preparation, particularly using food parcel ingredients.
• Safeguarding awareness – understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within a community setting.
• Team collaboration – ability to work with, support, and supervise volunteers of varying skill levels.
• Adaptability – confident working with surplus food and adjusting menus to available resources.
• Commitment to values – alignment with Muslim Hands’s mission to address poverty, food insecurity, and inequality

Why Join Us?

As part of the Muslim Hands family, you’ll help create a place of warmth and friendship for those in need. Your presence will extend beyond service, contributing to a deeper mission of compassion, respect, and community uplift.

If you’d like to support others and be part of something truly special, we’d be honoured to receive your application.

NB:         This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope.  The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by Line Manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.

A Senior Sous Chef position is needed to assist the Executive head chef in the everyday running and organising of the kitchen and to line manage assistant chefs and kitchen porters. Menu planning, food ordering, stock control, and event delivery.

This role is a fixed-term contract for one year, and the prospective post-holder is expected to commence in the role by April.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all the Lambeth Palace kitchen team are fully trained in the food safety management systems and procedures, implemented by the Executive Head Chef.
• Work under and closely with the Executive Head Chef to ensure that all statutory legislation is adhered to by ensuring that standards and controls for Health & Safety, food hygiene, risk assessments, COSHH, manual handling are carried out as per current legislation.
• To ensure that the agreed standards of food preparation and presentation are always supervised and adhered to.
• To maintain Lambeth Palace's five star 'Scores on the Doors' council rating.
• Maintain and develop a positive and collaborative relationship with all colleagues, giving direction when necessary.
• Ensure that kitchen timesheets are completed and submitted in a timely manner.
• Working within the HSE guidelines, the Senior Sous Chef will support the Executive Head Chef to ensure allergen training is provided to all hospitality staff.
• To ensure that food waste is minimised and Lambeth Palace's sustainability targets are met reducing our environmental impact.
• To deputise for the Executive Head Chef in their absence.
• Working with the Executive Head Chef on menu development, to plan nutritious and varied seasonal menus, taking into account special dietary requirements and the seasons of the Church.
• Ensure that kitchen stock levels are maintained, rotated where appropriate, and that any need for replenishment is identified.
• Maintain kitchen equipment inventories, and reporting shortages, damage or required replacements in a timely manner.
• To conduct daily briefings with any additional or agency kitchen staff, ensuring they understand what is required of them, as well as the desired quality and production output for the day.
• To work closely with the wider Lambeth Palace hospitality team to ensure that we remain competitive and in line with current trends.

Essential

Qualifications/Skills

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• Food hygiene management experience (COSHH, HACCP).
• Allergen Training

Knowledge/Experience

• Considerable experience operating different sections within the kitchen including pastry & baking.
• Experience in delivering fine-dining and banqueting catering.

Skills & Abilities

• A 'can-do' attitude and an aptitude for solving problems as they arise.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrable experience cooking a mixture of 'high-end' à la carte food and home cooking, as required.
• Considerable experience with catering for events up to 500 guests.
• Experience of baking to a high standard.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others.
• A confident, helpful personality and professional representative for Lambeth Palace.
• A keen eye for detail and anticipating other people's needs.

Personal Attributes

• Able to work flexibly, particularly evenings and occasional weekends.
• A sympathy with and interest in the Archbishop of Canterbury's ministry.
• Ability to support a culture of pride, ownership and desire to exceed expectation.
• Ability to foster a culture of flexibility.
• Ability to respond quickly and positively to changing requirements whether within the department or outside in order to meet demands and guest service needs.
• Discreet with the awareness and emotional intelligence to adapt working style and approach in different situations.
• This post is subject to a basic DBS check.

Desirable

Skills/Aptitudes

• The post holder should have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office for day-to-day office administration.
• First Aid qualification

Closing date for applications is Sunday 18 March at 23:55 pm.

Purpose of the role

To deliver the Day One Casework bedside model to patients, or those closest to them, impacted by serious or multiple injuries which could result in life changing consequences, such as disability or death, within James Cook University Hospital, providing support on some of the wards (such as rehabilitation), on-site clinics and other settings (e.g. rehabilitation centres). 

Have a visible physical presence within the Trust, becoming embedded into clinical teams focussing on major trauma pathways, facilitating outpatient and in-person legal clinics.

Key Responsibilites

The post holder’s primary duties and responsibilities are as follows: 

• Work closely, and in partnership, with NHS clinical staff and relevant community and voluntary sector organisations, to address the needs of patients, and those closest to them, affected by serious and life-changing injury. 

• Operate a case management approach to individuals, assessing and identifying needs, putting support in place including signposting, making referrals and direct support. 

• Provide consistency in assessment of all patients and their loved ones, irrespective of injury cause, age, status, giving access to the earliest possible specialist legal advice which supports rehabilitation and NHS cost recovery. 

• Maintain detailed case records, including accurate records of activity and intervention, using Day One’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, capturing and storing data in line with Day One policies and procedures and regulatory requirements. 

• Contributing towards report writing through the writing case studies and narrative to support data collection. 

• Implement processes and procedures to collect patient and family feedback and contribute to ongoing monitoring and evaluation of Day One services through providing relevant information, case studies and reports. 

• Deliver awareness raising presentations to clinical colleagues and departments. 

• Organise and facilitate outpatient and in person legal clinic drop-in sessions. 

• Build awareness of the role and charity’s purpose through building strong and effective relationships across the regional major trauma network, ensuring those who need it have access to Day One support. 

• Work closely with local authority, statutory and voluntary organisations to provide patient and family support and advocacy. 

• Help establish other support mechanisms once a person is no longer within the hospital setting, supporting the patient discharge process in conjunction with leadership from NHS staff. 

• Identify and support the recruitment and supervision of Day One volunteers, where appropriate. 

• Work closely in partnership with our Peer Support Service, focussed on promoting awareness and uptake within the region. 

• Work closely with the wider team on performance, quality, safety and effectiveness of all services, ensuring appropriate safeguarding policies are followed. 

• Work closely with our Fundraising and Communications team, supporting national activity, as well as regional initiatives to raise awareness and fundraise. 

• Be prepared to travel across the region and, on occasion, to other sites and national meetings as required. 

• Willingness to undertake continuous development and training for the role, including mandatory Day One and NHS Trust specific training. 

• Participate in external clinical supervision and monthly caseworker reflective practice to sessions to effectively explore and uphold professional boundaries within a safe, structure and supportive environment.

To work closely with those impacted by serious and life-changing injury, taking referrals and carrying out initial assessments of need, expertly navigating, signposting and putting services in place in the immediate aftermath of major trauma, including talking about and facilitating timely access to legal support to aid rehabilitation.

To establish and develop relationships with key stakeholders to promote Day One and address the needs of those affected by serious and life-changing injury. 

To work as part of the wider Day One Service’s team and organisation, taking responsibility for own record keeping and data collection in line with regulatory requirements. 

Please find the recruitment pack attached for full details.

How to apply 

Please upload your CV, and cover letter, no longer than two pages, demonstrating how you meet the criteria and outlining why you’re interested in the role. 

Closing date: Sunday 1st March 2026 
First stage virtual interviews: Week commencing 9th March 2026 
Second stage in-person interviews: Week commencing 16th March 2026 

Chef & Nutrition Coach

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Chef & Nutrition Coach

Location: Bedford, This service does not have full step free access. 

Salary: £26,000 (full time equivalent) 

Shift Pattern: 22.5 hours per week, Monday to Sunday Shifts flexible around meal preparation 5 days per week including weekends. Hours may vary dependent on service and resident requirements.

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Chef & Nutrition Coach to join our brand new service opening in April 2026! As a Chef & Nutrition Coach in the service, you will improve their dietary habits, optimise health, personalised as well as creating meals for our diverse and marginalised residents as they seek recovery.  You will need to understand ordering and budgeting as well as a strong understanding of food safety.  A solid understanding of meal planning, dietary needs, and allergy control is essential, but your most important quality will be that you are a people person who is willing to engage with our residents as you tailor healthy and delicious meals to satisfy their needs and wants.

This service is an 11 bed, community based mental health crisis and step down service offering short stay, trauma informed support. The team will support our residents who are at risk of admission but can be supported outside of mental health hospital settings, by providing tailored support to them to help them overcome their personal barriers, and achieve their goals, to live more fulfilled lives and independent living. 

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Planning, preparing and cooking food then serving this to residents.
• Plan and deliver purposeful workshops and activities for residents to participate in to develop life skills.
• Plan and prepare food for cooking on days when off duty.
• Ensure the kitchen is kept equipped with food supplies, equipment and tools.
• Maintain the kitchen and communal areas to ensure they are always kept clean and tidy.
• Ensure food and beverages are readily available for residents.
• Take ownership of self-development to stay aligned with industry and role specific requirements within the role.
• Budget Management: Work within the provided budget to ensure cost effectiveness.

About You

We are looking for someone who has a passion for cooking, food and nutrition, partnered with a desire to make a real difference to people's lives. We're looking for someone with a hands on approach to their work, able to take ownership and use your own initiative to solve challenges and support residents with understanding the importance of nutrition and diet in their daily lives. You will understand the marginalisation that people with multiple, complex needs face within society, and be driven to help our residents to overcome personal barriers.

What we are looking for:

• Someone who can plan and cook healthy, tasty and tailored food
• A good understanding of food costs and basic budgeting
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• A good understanding of Food Safety and Health and Safety Regulations
• Someone who can share and teach basic cooking skills to interested residents
• Experience of working with people of complex backgrounds, ideally those who have faced challenges with their mental health

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time Equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Please note that this will take you through to our Central Administration team, who will then communicate your enquiry with us and we will arrange to call you back. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they are likely to die from.

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives. 

We provide free specialist care and support to patients with terminal illnesses whilst offering vital emotional support for their families. It's all about giving them the best possible quality of life. The support we offer is tailored to meet individuals' medical, social, spiritual and emotional needs.

We want a different society than the one we live in now. Our mission for the next five years is to close the gap in the number of people missing out on what they need at the end-of-life, through three ways:

• Growing and transforming our direct care and support 
• Delivering more practical information and support 
• Leading in shaping the end-of-life experience  

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Chef to join our Facilities team at the Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice. In this important role, you will create high-quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

You will bring strong culinary expertise, the ability to design and deliver varied menus, and a commitment to excellent customer service. We’re looking for someone who works well within a team, shows initiative, adapts easily to changing demands, and demonstrates a genuinely caring approach.

You will also assist the Head Chef in supervision of Catering Assistants, assist with staff rotas, help recruit junior team members, and manage supplier selection and ordering processes.

If you are passionate about delivering great food and making a meaningful difference to the lives of others, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Contract:  Full Time; 37.5 hours per week

Working Days: Five days per week, Monday through Sunday, including Bank Holidays

Salary: Agenda for Change Pay Scale Band 3, £24,937–£26,598 per annum, with additional pay for weekend shifts.

Based: Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice, Solihull

Essential Criteria:

• City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2, or Level 2 NVQ in Food Production and Cooking (or equivalent qualification) ?
• Basic food hygiene certificate ?
• Relevant catering experience?
• Experience supervising staff
• High levels of Health and Safety awareness?

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience working within a healthcare environment
• NVQ Level 3 qualification
• Intermediate food handling certificate

What's in it for you:   

• Annual leave allowance 27 days plus 8 public holidays (pro-rated) 
• Competitive Policy for parental/sick Leave   
• Continuous Professional development   
• Industry leading training programmes   
• Generous Enhancements

Marie Curie Benefits Package:  

• Defined contribution schemes for Pension (the charity will match your contribution up to 7.5%)  
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme  
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems    
• Help with eyecare cost (T & C’s apply)   
• Entitled to Marie Curie Blue Light Card   
• Entitled to Benefit Hub Discount Scheme  
• Life assurance

To view the job description, 

Advert Closes: 5-March-2026

Application Process 

To apply, please submit an online application and include a copy of your most recent CV detailing your experience, how you meet the person specification and why you would like to work for Marie Curie. 

For more information or an informal chat please contact

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. 

Agencies need not apply. 

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We provide care for all, and that commitment extends beyond the people we serve. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Café Cook to join our Putney School of Art and Design team at Enable! This is a unique opportunity for a cook with passion to continue our good work introducing a diverse range of new classic and favourite home cooked dishes. 

About Us 

Enable is a charity dedicated to improving people's wellbeing and strengthening local communities. We work with councils, charities and other local organisations to deliver health, leisure, community services and events that enrich people’s lives and strengthen our local community.

At Enable, we value our employees and our culture, focusing on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive, flexible and fun environment for employees to perform at their best.

Reports to: Operations Manager

Based: Putney School of Art and Design

Salary: London Living Wage £13.85 (£15.52 Inclusive of Annual Leave)

Contract: Casual 
Work Arrangement: 4 days per week, On-site

DBS: Enhanced with Children

Role Overview: 

The PSAD café is the heart of our school where we pride ourselves on our creativity, diversity, and community. Our values are reflected in our broad range of lovingly made home cooked vegetarian dishes, freshly prepared and served each day. An integral service highly valued by our loyal customer base, a mixture of local artists and those new to the creative sector. 

The team at PSAD are passionate about connecting the community through culture, art and design, making it affordable and accessible for all. Today, managed by Enable and firmly rooted in the community, the school offers art and design courses, including specialised courses like the Art and Design Diploma, a Family Learning programme where parent and child can learn and work together, and courses for young people. 

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

• Plan the daily menu, prepare, cook and serve meals, serve hot and cold beverages and other food items 
• Serve customers efficiently with food and drink orders and take payments 
• Assist in preparation of cafe and counters before, during and at the end of service 
• Offer customers amazing standards of customer service and car 
• Responsible for cleaning all kitchen equipment and work areas, including cooker, microwave, work surface, display and storage areas and fridge, observing strict rules of hygiene 
• Ensuring adequate stock levels of supplies and consumables for café area by contributing to the ordering of stock, including the purchase of fresh produce as required 
• Ensuring compliance with all legislation including H&S and food hygiene and undertake all checks and tests as required by Environmental Services. 

Skills and Experience:  

• You must be a clear communicator who prides themselves on providing excellent customer service with the ability to build a great relationship with our loyal following of students and friends who visit the café. 
• You have previous experience of working in the food and beverage industry or the catering sector 
• You are reliable and self-sufficient with an ability to prioritise your work and use your initiative to undertake a variety of tasks 
• Be proactive, and versatile, with willingness to be flexible to help meet urgent and important business deadlines. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a company that positively impacts the community around them! If you are someone that is motivated by a desire to enrich the lives of others and make a genuine difference, then please Apply Now and follow the prompts. 

Enable is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. To find out more on our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.