Head ChefNHS

Job summary

The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth is one of the UKs leading private hospitals, renowned for exceptional patient care and a warm, welcoming environment. Our Catering Department plays a vital role in supporting patient wellbeing, delivering outstanding food that meets clinical, nutritional, and hospitality standards.

Main duties of the job

We are now seeking an experienced and inspiring Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations and elevate our culinary offering across the hospital. The Head Chef will oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring the delivery of highquality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, and visitors. You will lead a dedicated kitchen team, manage budgets, maintain compliance with food safety and healthcare regulations, and drive continuous improvement across all catering services.

Job description

• Culinary leadership Maintain exceptional standards in food preparation, presentation, and service.
• Menu development Create menus aligned with nutritional guidelines, patient needs, allergens, and cultural requirements.
• Patient dining excellence Work with dietitians and clinical teams to support patient recovery and wellbeing.
• Team leadership Lead, train, and develop the kitchen brigade, ensuring a positive and highperforming culture.
• Food cost control Manage stock, ordering, suppliers, and budgets to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.
• Safety & compliance Ensure full compliance with HACCP, infection control, allergen management, and all regulatory standards.
• Continuous improvement Innovate menus, enhance service quality, and support audits and inspections.

About us

Located in leafy St Johns Wood on the Jubilee line, minutes from Central London, our independent private Hospital has just been rated the number one in the country for care in the latest Bupa survey. Uniquely, all profits fund our onsite Hospice, St Johns.