Assistant Chef

Sanctuary; Greater London; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave pro rata

Sick pay linked to length of service

Contributory pension

Inspection bonus

Health and wellbeing support

Life insurance

Parental leave

Training & development

Flexible working

Inclusive culture

Free meals

Discounts & Cycle to Work

Job summary

Sanctuary Care is seeking an Assistant Chef at Ashgreen House Residential and Nursing Home in London. This role offers 20 hours per week with no late nights or split shifts, a focus on nutritious, restaurant-quality meals, and a supportive team led by the Chef Manager.

You will contribute to high food standards, safe kitchen practices, and a positive dining experience for residents and staff. The package includes generous leave, sick pay, pension, and ongoing training, within a values-driven,

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.

Skills

Catering experience

Food hygiene certificate

People-friendly

Team player

Safety & care

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

Ashgreen House Residential and Nursing Home, Sandbach Place, Woolwich, London, SE18 7EX

£14.52 per hour

20 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 Ashgreen in London, 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 proudly Investors 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.

Before you apply

• We can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK.
• 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.
• We may close this advert early, so please apply as soon as possible.

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.