Weekend Chef

Application Deadline: 25 April 2026

Department: Site Support Roles

Employment Type: Permanent - Part Time

Location: Priory Hospital Suttons Manor

Compensation: £11,000 / year

Priory Hospital Suttons Manor is looking to recruit a Chef to join the team. This is a part time 15 hours role working Saturday and Sunday every weekend.

Priory Hospital Suttons Manor is set in Stapleford Tawney, a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district, near the town of Romford. The hospital is set in its own attractive grounds of over nine acres, which supports an amazing horticulture programme and grants access to an idyllic countryside landscape, which, by its very nature, promotes wellbeing.

You'll be part of a dedicated and compassionate team, all working together to ensure the smooth running of the hospital and to support the wellbeing of our patients. While your role doesn't involve providing direct care, your contribution is vital in helping to maintain a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for everyone. Whether you're assisting with day-to-day operations, keeping things organised, or ensuring our spaces are well looked after, your support plays an important part in creating a positive experience for those who live and work here.

• Assists with the provision of a catering service within a Priory Group Service with particular emphasis on the planning, preparation, cooking and serving of meals, ensuring all activities and operations comply with operational standards and statutory regulations. Undertakes the planning, preparation and cooking of meals, taking account of any special requests or dietary requirements within the unit.
• Ensuring operational standards comply with the company's Food Safety policies and guidelines and statutory regulations.
• Takes full shift responsibility for the catering operation (in the absence of the Head Chef).
• Ensures the cost effective and efficient control of stock including placing orders for food products and the checking/reconciliation of deliveries.
• Monitors and adapts food production ensuring that there is a minimum amount of wasted food.
• Researches, develops and creates varied and interesting menus, which take account of healthy eating guidelines and any dietary requirements of the particular resident group.
• To ensure that wherever possible the people who use the service are provided with variety and choice, with full regard for dietary, nutritional and religious requirements, adapting to the changing needs of the people who use the service so their diets can be amended accordingly when needed.
• Responsible for food safety standards and the standard of kitchen cleaning.
• Experience producing meals for large groups on time and to budget.
• Supervises assigned catering staff ensuring their quality of work continues to meet required operational standards including food safety and cleanliness.

You can find additional information in the attached job description.

Our work is rewarding but can be challenging, so resilience is key. No two days are the same! Your natural empathy will help you support others through both the highs and lows.

The ideal candidate will be numerate and literate, qualified to NVQ2 level or equivalent, and hold a basic qualification in food hygiene. They will be able to organise and prioritise their own workload within established procedures, demonstrating excellent organisation and time management skills. With strong communication and negotiation abilities, they will confidently monitor costs and liaise effectively with suppliers. A good understanding of specialised diets, including Dysphagia and allergens, will be advantageous. The ideal candidate will deliver first class customer service and bring experience from a professional kitchen environment, with a proven track record of producing meals for large groups on time and within budget.

For more information about the role, you can email

We want you to succeed at Priory and thrive in your role. You will be well supported with regular career conversations. We also offer full training and numerous pathways into leadership and qualified clinical positions to help you shape your career with us.

• Free on site parking
• Birthday Holiday - your birthday as an extra days annual leave
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Contributory pension scheme
• Flexible benefits including reduced rates and access to new schemes including gym membership, IT technology (laptops / tablets / smartphones) and Healthcare Cash Plan (Simply Health Scheme)
• Access to development opportunitiesSponsorship of professional qualifications through our Individual Professional Development (IPD) panel
• Leadership & management development
• Long service award
• Refer a friend bonuses

Shortlisting may begin upon receipt of applications, and the Recruiting Manager may close the vacancy early if enough suitable candidates are identified.