Assistant Chef

Healthcare Homes; Witney; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

5.6 weeks holiday pay

Refer a Friend scheme (£1000)

Employee Assistance Programme

Healthcare Homes Academy training

Qualifications and Apprenticeship (Lvl

Job summary

Healthcare Homes is seeking a passionate kitchen professional to join Cedar Court care home kitchen team, preparing chef‑quality meals for 63 residents and supporting daily dining activities.

You will cover the Head Chef in their absence, manage stock, help write weekly menus, and lead a small team while maintaining high standards of food hygiene and resident wellbeing.

City and Guilds or NVQ qualifications are preferred but training can be provided through our Academy.

Qualifications

• Experience in a professional kitchen with good organisational skills and knowledge of kitchen practices and food hygiene.
• City and Guilds or NVQ qualifications preferred but not essential, training available through our Academy.

Responsibilities

• Help manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Deliver nutritious and wholesome dishes cooked to high quality standards.
• Manage stock control to minimise wastage.
• Assist in leading and motivating a team.
• Support weekly menu planning, ordering and wastage reduction.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Food hygiene

Organisational skills

Team leadership

Menu planning

Stock control

Education

City and Guilds or NVQ qualifications

Job description

About the Role

Do you have a passion for preparing and cooking meals and want to help make a difference in people's lives?

If you are kind, compassionate and committed, we would love for you to join our kitchen team in our lovely care home, Cedar Court, catering for 63 residents.

Our delicious, chef-prepared food menus and stimulating activities programme are testaments to our commitment to delivering the very best standards in care home living.

Our caring staff always have residents' best interests at heart. Nothing is ever too much trouble for our professional and compassionate team, who are dedicated to supporting residents to live later life to its fullest potential.

Typical Day

Help manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence

Work to deliver nutritious and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards

Manage stock control

To assist in leading and motivating a team

Support the Head Chef with writing and planning weekly menus, ordering as well as keeping wastage to a minimum.

Job Requirements

The successful candidate will have experience in working in a professional kitchen, have good organisational skills and knowledge of good kitchen practices and food hygiene standards. City and Guilds or NVQ qualifications are preferred but not essential as they can be provided through our Academy.

Benefits

• Company Pension
• 5.6 weeks paid holiday pay
• Refer a Friend scheme worth up to £1000 per person
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental health and wellbeing
• Extensive training courses through our Healthcare Homes Academy
• Qualifications and Apprenticeship opportunities including Level 3 in Food Production
• Blue Light Card offering a number of discounts across retail and hospitality
• Recognition and Long Service awards

About the Employer

Established in 2005, Healthcare Homes Group has an existing portfolio comprising of 48 residential and nursing homes located across East Anglia and the South of England. We are a Top 20 provider within the care sector and our ethos is to deliver the best person-centred care to all our residents.