Head Chef

Head Chef
Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice
Grove Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AE
37.5 hour per week
£14.08 - 15.25 per hour, DOE (plus enhancements and competitive benefits)

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone.

We are there when it matters.

About us

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice is in the heart of Headingley, Leeds. We provide expert palliative care at a time when people need this the most. We support you when you are living with a life-limiting condition, and also help your loved ones and family.

We support people aged 18 and over who are living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, heart failure and lung disease by combining specialist medical care for managing pain and other symptoms with other emotional, practical and spiritual support.

We are able to provide care in our inpatient unit and our CNS team are on hand to visit people and provide care for people in their own home.


About the Role

The Head Chef is responsible for managing the kitchen and catering team, ensuring meals are prepared and served to a high standard in line with Sue Ryder expectations. The role includes line management of all catering staff and working closely with, and supporting, volunteers within the team.

Current shift times are 08:00 - 18:30 working on a 2 week rolling rota basis.

• Previous experience of managing kitchens
• Experience of meeting nutritional needs and requirements on an individual basis
• Knowledge of regulations, e.g. COSHH, Health & Safety, HACCP
• Ability to work as part of a team


About you

Our ideal candidate will have relevant professional experience, ideally within a hospice or health and social care environment, alongside the ability to lead and manage a busy kitchen and catering team. This role includes managing the catering budget, ensuring costs are controlled within agreed limits, and leading Chefs and Catering Assistants under the guidance of the Head of Operations.

Due to the nature of the role, experience in catering for individuals with specific dietary needs—such as fortified diets, food-related contraindications, and swallowing difficulties—is highly desirable. You will be accountable for delivering services that meet Sue Ryder and regulatory standards, as well as representing the service at key meetings.

Above all, you will bring a passion for delivering high-quality, nutritious meals and a commitment to providing a personalised and compassionate service to people when they need it most.


Minimum Essential Criteria:

• Experience leading a catering team in a regulated setting (e.g., health or care)
• Knowledge of dietary needs including cultural, medical, and accessible food provision
• Ability to make adjustments in meal prep and service to support diverse needs
• Strong leadership and inclusive team management skills


Benefits

· Enhanced pay for unsociable hours
· Company pension scheme
· 27 days holiday – rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays
· Enhanced maternity and paternity pa
· Enhanced sick pay
· Electric Vehicle Scheme
· Healthcare Cash plan, to claim back costs of routine healthcare
· Death in Service benefit
· Staff discount of 10% on new goods online at shop.sueryder.org
· Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

For more of our employee benefits please visit our website:
www.sueryder.org/jobs/careers-in-palliative-care/benefits-of-working-for-sue-ryder/


Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

At Sue Ryder, we recognise that a diverse workforce allows us to provide the best care and support. We are committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

We welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we’re proud to support the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme. This means we will offer an interview to all disabled applicants who best meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

We use inclusive recruitment practices including sharing interview themes or questions in advance, offering remote interviews where needed, and other accessibility support.

If you require support to compete an application or participate fully in the interview process, please email recruitment@sueryder.org.

Once in post you’ll have access to staff and volunteer networks for LGBTQ+ colleagues, ethnic diversity and equity, people with disabilities, and women and non-binary individuals, plus an Inclusion Passport to record and carry your workplace adjustments.

For more information on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, please visit: www.sueryder.org/jobs/equity-diversity-inclusion

Join us in creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive.