Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Nursery Chef

The closing date is 04 March 2026

Job summary

Position: Chef

Location:Kiddies Cabin Nursery, Maidenhead

Type:Full time, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, no weekend work!

Salary:£26,240 to £27,928

Are you passionate and talented Chef looking for a new opportunity, do you enjoy a varied role that encompasses all areas of kitchen management?

We at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Nurseries provide a nurturing environment where children thrive. We believe that healthy, delicious meals are essential for the growth and development of our children, and we are looking for a skilled chef to help us achieve this.

Responsibilities:

  • Prepare nutritious and tasty meals for children aged 0-5

  • Plan menus that cater to various dietary requirements

  • Maintain a clean and organized kitchen

  • Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are met

  • Collaborate with nursery staff to create a positive dining experience for children

This is a solo role, and it is essential that you have a food hygiene qualification or relevant experience and a good understanding around healthy eating and allergens.

You are confident and experienced in all areas including food preparation, cooking meals, serving food and cleaning up after and work alongside our Area Manager on creating the menus.

We offer great opportunities for development in this role and support with internal and external training courses.

Main duties of the job

  • Working with the area Manager for Nurseries to create healthy, well-balanced menus for the Nurseries

  • Full responsibility of the kitchen from meal prep to cleaning down of equipment

  • Ordering o fall fresh, frozen and non-perishable ingredients from a variety of approved suppliers

  • Maintaining good food hygiene standards

  • Ensuring all allergen and dietary requirements are met and catered to

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust site

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum (incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-TAP-CS334

Job locations

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent

  • Food Hygiene Certificate

  • Previousexperience in a similar role

  • Strong communicationskills both written and verbal

Ifyouresomeone who shares our passion for excellence and care, join us andlets be outstanding together.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Pleasedonthesitate to call:Leigh Kellyon01189044637Or emailLeigh.Kelly@berkshire.nhs.ukwhollbe delighted to help.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants whererequired.

Applications for this role will be considered on a first come first serve basis and we may close the vacancy early if the right candidate is found

Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent

  • Food Hygiene Certificate

  • Previousexperience in a similar role

  • Strong communicationskills both written and verbal

Ifyouresomeone who shares our passion for excellence and care, join us andlets be outstanding together.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Pleasedonthesitate to call:Leigh Kellyon01189044637Or emailLeigh.Kelly@berkshire.nhs.ukwhollbe delighted to help.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants whererequired.

Applications for this role will be considered on a first come first serve basis and we may close the vacancy early if the right candidate is found

Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications /Training

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent
  • Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Good standard of education
  • Literate
  • Legible handwriting

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Commitment to personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of any work which demonstrates the skills required for the post
  • Previous experience within catering
  • An awareness of special dietary requirements and allergens
  • Good understanding of health required diets
  • Good understanding of food preparation for next service
  • Good understanding of HACCP

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team and unsupervised
  • Flexibility to change working patterns as required
  • Good time management skills
  • Computer literate
  • Good communication skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Good health record
  • Confident
  • Well groomed
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications /Training

Essential

  • City & Guilds 706/1/2 or equivalent
  • Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Good standard of education
  • Literate
  • Legible handwriting

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

  • Commitment to personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of any work which demonstrates the skills required for the post
  • Previous experience within catering
  • An awareness of special dietary requirements and allergens
  • Good understanding of health required diets
  • Good understanding of food preparation for next service
  • Good understanding of HACCP

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team and unsupervised
  • Flexibility to change working patterns as required
  • Good time management skills
  • Computer literate
  • Good communication skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Good health record
  • Confident
  • Well groomed

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Nursery Manager

Leigh Kelly

Leigh.Kelly@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189044637

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,240 to £27,928 a year per annum (incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-TAP-CS334

Job locations

St Marks Hospital

112 St Marks Road

Maidenhead

SL6 6DU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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