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Chef

Job details
Posting date: 10 February 2026
Salary: £26,883.71 per year
Additional salary information: Competitive
Hours: Part time
Closing date: 11 March 2026
Location: Manchester, M27 8FB
Company: Sodexo Ltd
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: SDX/TP/1956626/153797

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Summary

Chef at HMP Forest Bank

Location: HMP Forest Bank
Hours: 40 hours per week

HMP Forest Bank is recruiting a Chef to support catering services within a prison environment. This role combines large-scale food production with the supervision, training and development of residents, helping to improve skills, employability, and reduce re offending.

Key Responsibilities
  • Assist in the preparation and cooking of meals for up to 1,400 residents, twice daily

  • Ensure all food is prepared and handled in line with food safety, allergen, and health & safety legislation

  • Supervise, instruct, and manage the daily workload of prisoners in the kitchen

  • Support residents to achieve Food Safety Level 2 and NVQ Level 1 & 2 Catering qualifications

  • Ensure cleaning standards, stock rotation, portion control, and meal timescales are met

  • Maintain secure receipt, storage, and issue of food and equipment, including knife control (training provided)

  • Complete required paperwork and liaise with other departments as needed

  • Maintain high standards of security, safety, and behaviour at all times

Essential Criteria
  • City & Guilds 7132/06–07 or 706/2 (or equivalent)

  • Experience in industrial or large scale catering

  • Good communication skills and a flexible, motivated approach

  • Interest in rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders

  • Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

  • Ability to obtain security clearance and DBS check

Desirable
  • Experience working with challenging behaviour

  • Experience in a prison, forces, or similar environment

  • Experience supporting disadvantaged groups or young offenders

Whilst the ideal candidate would fit into the above criteria, we would implore applicants with the relevant transferrable skills to apply for this role, as you may still be a great fit!

Why Join Us?

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo’s vision for HMP Altcourse is to develop a safe, stable, and progressive environment with modern facilities dedicated to reducing re-offending and enabling individuals to fulfil their potential. Every aspect of the prison is designed to help prisoners make meaningful progress in their sentence and personal development goals within a surrounding culture of rehabilitation.

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions. And for that you’ll receive an excellent benefits package including access to gym facilities on site and a Blue Light card.We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome and can be the best versions of themselves.

If you have the ambition to build a successful career and the people skills to build successful relationships, apply now for a career that’s too good to miss.

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