Chef

Healthcare Ireland Group; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid annual leave

Pension plan

Uniforms and PPE provided

Free parking

Monthly incentives and recognition

Job summary

Healthcare Ireland Group seeks an experienced Chef at Rose Court, Ballymena, to lead the kitchen team and deliver high‑quality, person‑centred dining for residents. You will plan menus, supervise staff, and ensure compliance with safety standards in a home environment.

The role emphasizes nutrition, dietary requirements, and maintaining a safe, positive kitchen culture with opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as Chef or similar role.
• NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Management or NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery.
• Advanced Food Safety certificate.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage a small team and ensure kitchen standards.
• Capable of planning nutritious meals with dietary considerations including IDDSI.
• Knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and Health and Safety.

Responsibilities

• Effective planning, preparation, and delivery of all aspects of food preparation and cooking.
• Supervise and motivate the catering team and maintain operational standards.
• Monitor the home’s catering budget within company standards.
• Develop varied and interesting menus.
• Manage stock ordering and rotation efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Undertake duties designated by the Home Manager.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team management

Menu planning

HACCP

COSHH

Health and Safety

Education

NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Management

NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery

Tools

Food safety certificate

Job description

Chef

Are you an experienced Chef with a passion for food?

Rose Court

Rose Court is a professional, person-centred care and nursing home situated in Ballymena. This spacious home provides a range of specialist care services for older people, including residential, dementia and general nursing. We are proud of our high standards and values in providing care with the utmost dignity and respect.

We continuously strive to maintain the safe, comfortable and homely environment and a calm and restful atmosphere for our residents at Rose Court. Our kind and compassionate care teams not only provide 24 hour care, they also share their good company, companionship and assistance whenever required, to ensure that residents feel listened to and supported, whatever their needs and wishes may be.

The light and spacious, private bedrooms are beautifully furnished, all with en-suite facilities. The home, which is designed to enable those we care for to maintain their independence in a safe environment, has excellent amenities, including a café, comfortable lounges and dining spaces within which residents can relax and socialise. Residents are very welcome to bring their own home accessories and furniture, to personalise their space and make it their home.

The Role

The food our residents eat plays a key part in the care we offer and as a result, the role of Chef is essential in our mission to provide excellent care. The Chef is responsible for menu planning, meal preparation, kitchen management and ensuring compliance with the necessary regulatory standards.

This is a leadership role, managing the kitchen team in addition to working closely with the care teams and management of the Home. The Chef has a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of our residents through the provision of high quality, person-centred dining experiences.

This role is about a lot more than preparing meals, this role is essential in ensuring the dietary needs of our residents are met in addition to managing a safe and positive working environment for the team.

About the role

Main Responsibilities

• Effective and efficient planning, preparation, and delivery of all aspects of food preparation and cooking

• Supervising and motivating the catering team and ensuring operational standards comply

• Responsible for monitoring the home’s catering budget within Healthcare Ireland’s standards

• Researches, develops, and creates varied and interesting menus

• Ensures that stock ordering and rotation is organised in an efficient and cost-effective manner

• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required as designated by the Home Manager

The Benefits:

• Paid annual leave

• The chance to be part of a growing healthcare company

• Continuous professional development and training

• Values-led culture

• Overtime available at an enhanced rate

• Opportunities for progression

• Pension plan (if applicable)

• Attractive hourly rate

• Access NI fee paid for

• Uniforms and PPE provided

• Monthly incentives and recognition awards

• Free parking

We do not offer sponsorship for this role

Healthcare Ireland are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

About the company

Healthcare Ireland provides care services in an environment where individuality is emphasised and the privacy and dignity of all our residents is recognised. We currently have over 1,800 employees throughout our 25 Homes. We are incredibly proud of not only the work our employees do, but the quality of care we are able to offer as result of their commitment.

We started Healthcare Ireland Group in July 2015 with the opening of Bradley Manor Care Home. Our categories of care include general and dementia nursing, dementia residential, mental health, physical disability and learning disability.

Required Criteria

• Right to Work in the UK.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience as Chef or a similar role.
• Qualified to NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Management/ NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery.
• Hold an advanced Food Safety certificate.
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to manage a small team, ensuring the kitchen provision operates in line with company expectations, the necessary standards and regulations, whilst providing an exceptional service to our residents.
• Capable of planning nutritious meals, taking into account specific dietary requirements as well as have an understanding of IDDSI modified foods.
• Have knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and Health and Safety, updating this knowledge regularly.

Desired Criteria

• Experience in a care home is desirable but not essential.