Chef

Athena Care Homes; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dedicated care home provider in Cambridge is seeking a Chef to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals. You will work under the Head Chef, ensuring that every meal is deliciously prepared. The ideal candidate has prior kitchen experience and is NVQ Level 2 certified in Food Hygiene. This role offers a competitive salary of £13.37 per hour, 40 hours per week with no late nights. Benefit from a supportive environment and opportunities to grow your culinary skills.

Benefits

28 days of holiday per year

Free Blue Light Card & access to discounts

Refer a friend scheme

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a kitchen environment is essential.
• NVQ Level 2 in Food Hygiene (or equivalent) is required.
• Experience in a care environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in ensuring all regulatory and statutory requirements are met.
• Provide guidance and leadership to Kitchen Assistants when required.
• Work collaboratively with the kitchen team to ensure audits are completed.

Skills

Previous experience in a similar role

Strong communication skills

Team-focused attitude

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Food Hygiene

Job description

Overview

As a Chef at Alex Wood House Care Home, you’ll help make mealtimes a highlight of the day by preparing delicious, nourishing food and creating a dining experience that brings comfort, enjoyment, and a real sense of home for our residents.

About Alex Wood House Care Home

Alex Wood House is an exceptional residential care home in Cambridge. At Alex Wood House we pride ourselves on our family-feel, attractive gardens and providing outstanding care to each of our residents.

We’re based in a quiet nook in Arbury on the north eastern side of Cambridge, three miles from the city centre. Our home offers 24-hour residential care and 36 en-suite bedrooms.

About the role

As a key member of our kitchen team, the Chef plays an important role in delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support the wellbeing of our residents. Working under the guidance of the Head Chef, you’ll be responsible for preparing and serving food to the highest standard, ensuring every meal is both delicious and thoughtfully presented.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across the home to maintain excellent service, creating a positive dining experience that reflects our commitment to care, comfort, and community.

Salary

£13.37 per hour.

Shift Pattern

40 hours per week, worked on a rota basis from Monday to Sunday with no late nights and no split shifts!

Home Location

Fortescue Road, Cambridge, England, CB4 2JS – 3 miles from the city centre.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• To support the Head Chef in ensuring all regulatory and statutory requirements are met, and that company policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• To provide guidance and leadership to Kitchen Assistants when required, ensuring service is delivered to the highest standard.
• To work collaboratively with the kitchen team to ensure that all actions from internal and external audits are completed within the required timescales.

Training, Skills & Experience Required

• Previous experience in a similar role within a kitchen environment is essential.
• NVQ Level 2 in Food Hygiene (or equivalent) is required.
• Experience in a care environment is desirable.
• Strong communication skills, with a positive, enthusiastic, and team-focused attitude.

What we can offer

• Fully comprehensive induction.
• Competitive salary, plus enhancements on bank holidays.
• 28 days of holiday per year.
• Free Blue Light Card & access to the Blue Light discount platform.
• Refer a friend scheme.

About Athena

Athena Care Homes are a family run business with seven homes across East Anglia. We have care homes in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Kings Lynn (West Norfolk) & Ipswich (Suffolk).

We want to be the first choice for high quality residential, nursing and dementia care, leaving a positive legacy within our communities.

Our care homes are managed by amazing and passionate people, including strong leadership by our home managers with dedicated care, clinical, hospitality and activities teams to provide exceptional care and experience, achieving brilliant outcomes for people in our care.

We hold our values close to our hearts and ensure that team members throughout each of our residential and nursing homes understand them and what importance they hold. We approach everything we do with thought, and we deliver with passion.