Assistant Chef

Sanctuary Group; Erith; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave pro rata

Sick pay linked to length of service

Contributory pension

Health and wellbeing support

Life insurance

Parental leave arrangements

Annual leave purchase scheme

Company-funded training

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Sanctuary Care is seeking an Assistant Chef at Shaftesbury Court Residential Care Home, Erith. You will assist in preparing nutritious, restaurant-quality meals and support the Chef Manager to maintain high standards in a calm kitchen environment.

You’ll engage with residents daily, promote hygiene standards, and contribute to a positive dining experience. This role emphasizes work-life balance with no late nights or split shifts, within a not-for-profit setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering environment.
• Valid food hygiene certificate.
• Friendly and approachable with a passion for good food.
• Commitment to high standards of safety and care.

Responsibilities

• Prepare varied, high-quality menus with the Chef Manager.
• Enjoy a better work-life balance – no late nights, no split shifts, and more time for you.
• Promote and maintain food hygiene and safety standards.
• Carry out risk assessments and keep the kitchen clean and safe.
• Engage daily with residents, visitors and colleagues in a friendly way.
• Support a positive dining experience for everyone.
• Experience in a catering environment.

Skills

Experience in catering environment

Friendly and approachable

Ability to work well as part of a team

Commitment to high standards of safety

Education

Valid food hygiene certificate

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Department: Health and Social Care (Catering and Hospitality S

Operation: Sanctuary Care

Closing Date:

Requisition: 230248

Inclusion is one of our core values. Our goal is to be a diverse, inclusive organisation where our people thrive and meet our customers’ needs with fairness and empathy. We know having a range of ideas and opinions makes a difference. We encourage and welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds to support this mission. We will make adjustments throughout your application process, in line with Sanctuary’s commitment to our Disability Confident employer status.

Shaftesbury Court Residential Care Home, Selkirk Drive, Erith, Kent, DA8 3QP

£14.52 per hour

Cook up your career in care with a better work-life balance

We’re excited to welcome an Assistant Chef to support the preparation of nutritious, restaurant-quality meals at Shaftesbury Court Residential Care Home in Erith , without the long hours or split shifts often found in hospitality. Working alongside the Chef Manager, you’ll play a key role in delivering high standards of food, presentation, and dining experience within a calm, well-structured kitchen environment.

We’re proudlyInvestors in People Gold accredited and not-for-profit, which means every penny we make goes straight back into our people and our homes. Whether you’ve already found your calling or you’re still discovering it, we’ll support you every step of the way. From your first day to your dream role, we’ll help you get there.

When you join Sanctuary Care, you’re joining an award-winning team where colleagues and residents truly matter. We’re proud winners of the 2025 Nursing Times Award for Care of Older People and the 2025 Care Home Awards Best for Training and Development, and Outstanding Larger Care Home Group.

Your role

• Prepare varied, high-quality menus with the Chef Manager
• Enjoy a better work-life balance – no late nights, no split shifts, and more time for you
• Promote and maintain food hygiene and safety standards
• Carry out risk assessments and keep the kitchen clean and safe
• Engage daily with residents, visitors and colleagues in a friendly way
• Support a positive dining experience for everyone
• Experience in a catering environment
• Valid food hygiene certificate
• Friendly and approachable with a passion for good food
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Commitment to high standards of safety and care

Your rewards

You deserve more than the basics. That’s why, alongside 28 days’ annual leave pro rata (including bank holidays), occupationalsick paylinked to length of service, and a contributorypension, we’ve created a package to help you thrive:

• CQC/CIinspection bonus
• Health and wellbeing support– including Aviva Digicare+ with virtual GP appointments, plus an Employee Assistance Programme offering medical, financial, and legal advice, as well as short-term counselling
• Company-paid life insurance
• Parental leave arrangementsandannual leave purchase scheme
• Company-funded trainingand ongoing career development opportunities, including our Team Leader Development Programme
• Flexible working optionsand aninclusive culturewhere everyone belongs, supported by our staff networks including PRISM, Disability, Race Equality and Parent networks
• Exclusive retail discounts, Cycle to Work, and salary sacrifice arrangements

Some rewards are subject to a qualifying period or other criteria – visit our website for more information.

Ready to start an inspiring career journey with us?

Curious about what it’s like to work with us? Discover our values, culture, and real stories from our teams at www.sanctuary-care.co.uk/jobs or follow us on socials.

Before you apply

We can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

All roles require safeguarding and pre-employment checks, including criminal records and overseas police checks if needed; for more information, please get in touch.

Internal candidates should apply via their internal careers account.

Inclusion is one of our core values

We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process in line with our Disability Confident employer status.

We work closely with the Home Office in order to prevent illegal working.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be necessary in the event of a successful application which we will pay for.

Sanctuary Care Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity.