Assistant Chef

Sanctuary; Greater London; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days’ annual leave

Sick pay

Contributory pension

Health and wellbeing support

Life insurance

Parental leave

Training and development

Flexible working

Free meals

Retail discounts

Job summary

Sanctuary Care is seeking an Assistant Chef for Shaftesbury Court Residential Care Home in Erith, Kent. You will support the Chef Manager in preparing nutritious, restaurant-quality meals in a calm kitchen, delivering high standards of food and dining experiences for residents and visitors.

We offer a supportive environment with Investors in People Gold accreditation and a not-for-profit ethos. The role emphasizes work-life balance, with no late shifts and structured hours, and opportunities for

Qualifications

• 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

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

Job description

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.

Assistant Chef

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

£14.52 per hour

27 hours per week - no late nights, no split shifts

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 CourtResidential 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

Your skills

• 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), occupational sick pay linked to length of service, and a contributory pension, we’ve created a package to help you thrive:

• CQC/CI inspection 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 arrangements and annual leave purchase scheme
• Company-funded training and ongoing career development opportunities, including our Team Leader Development Programme
• Flexible working options and an inclusive culture where everyone belongs, supported by our staff networks including PRISM, Disability, Race Equality and Parent networks
• Free meals dependant on shift duration
• 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?

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.