Catering manager

Catering managers in the NHS are responsible for providing food and drink for patients and staff. They have to make sure that the food and drink is high quality, within budget and served on time.

This page has information on the role of a catering manager in the NHS, including entry requirements and skills needed.

Working life

As a catering manager, you'll

recruit, train and manage staff
make sure all services meet health and safety and food hygiene standards
plan menus to take into account nutritional standards and medical requirements, such as low fat, gluten free, vegetarian, etc
arrange staff rotas
control budgets
order and control stock

Who will I work with?

Most catering departments also have assistant managers and catering supervisors who are responsible for day-to-day food and drink service. They supervise catering staff to make sure that meals are prepared and served correctly and that supplies are available and carefully used.

Catering managers may spend time liaising with dietitians and dietetic assistants to plan meals for patients on special diets. They also spend time with chefs and cooks planning menus.

You'll be part of a team responsible to hotel services managers.

Entry requirements

Catering managers in the NHS have a relevant qualification, usually a degree or HND. This could be in, for example

hospitality management
hotel and catering management
culinary arts management

To get onto a degree or HND course you usually need

two or three A levels, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language and maths

or alternative qualifications, including

BTEC or HNC
relevant NVQ
access course
equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications

However, each institution sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check carefully.

Skills needed

Catering managers have to be

interested in food and drink
flexible and adaptable
able to plan ahead and prioritise
keen to provide good customer service
organised
able to manage people and budgets
able to solve problem
be able to communicate

Training and development

If you join the NHS as a catering manager you will be given the training you need to introduce you to the department and its systems and procedures. You are likely to have opportunities to take further qualifications. You may also be expected to go on short courses in particular topics such as special diets.

Catering managers can become members of the Hospital Caterers Association or the Institute of Hospitality.

Pay and conditions
Expand / collapse

Catering staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As a cook team manager, you'll typically be on AfC band 4, and with further training and experience, you could apply for posts as a catering manager at AfC bands 5 and 6.

Catering managers in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may work shifts including early starts and evenings.

Terms and conditions will usually be different for catering managers staff working outside of the NHS.
Where the role can lead
Expand / collapse

With experience, catering managers can progress by being responsible for larger departments. With further experience, they may become head of a trust’s catering service.

There may be opportunities outside the NHS.
Job market and vacancies
Expand / collapse

Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some advertise on their own websites. You can find a list of NHS organisations NHS Choices.

If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work.

Find out more about NHS values.
Further information
Expand / collapse
- Institute of Hospitality
- Hospital Caterers Association