Bank Chef

Are you a Chef looking for the perfect work-life balance? This opportunity might just be your perfect fit.

Become a valued member of our staff bank at Thornford Park Hospital in the role of Bank Chef and enjoy the flexibility to choose shifts that align with your schedule.

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.

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.

Please note (Bank Only):
You’ll need to commit to a paid three-week training course. If you’re unable to attend, we kindly ask that you do not apply.

As a Bank 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 will have:

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

Supervising qualification or working towards

Experience preparing and producing quality food to a high standard

Knowledge of menu planning and costing

Previous experience in delivery a service on mass

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 will get:

Hourly rate of £13.25 (Plus a 12.07% Holiday Allowance Uplift)

Weekly pay!

Three-week paid induction

Subsidised meals

Free parking

Mandatory training to ensure you are fully able to do your job at the best of your ability

Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a great work-life balance

Pension contribution to secure your future (Optional)

There is also…