Chef/Cook

Highgate Care; Stockport; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

Highgate Care is seeking a Chef/Cook for our Cheadle Grange home in Stockport. The role covers planning, preparing and cooking nutritious meals that respect residents' preferences and dietary needs, following our Good Food Guide and Head Office approvals where required.

You will supervise the Kitchen Team, interview applicants, ensure HACCP and safety compliance, manage stock and cleanliness, and contribute to a warm, person-centred kitchen environment that supports our residents’ wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Warm, approachable and positive outlook.
• Organised and reliable with good planning.
• Creative and enthusiastic with ability to motivate others.
• Passionate about improving the lives of older people.
• Willing to participate in staff and resident meetings.
• Previous experience in a care setting is a bonus, but values matter.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and cook a variety of meals to residents' preferences and dietary requirements, following Highgate Care Homes' Good Food Guide and approvals from Head Office.
• Provide advice and guidance to the team to maintain a friendly, supportive working environment.
• Supervise and appraise the Kitchen Team.
• Interview applicants for vacancies within the Kitchen Team.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, Health and Safety, COSHH, Environmental Health.
• Maintain cleaning schedules and ensure kitchen areas are clean; assist with washing up as required.
• Order and rotate stocks to maintain freshness and arrange for supplies from approved suppliers.
• Keep kitchen equipment in safe working order and report faults; assist Home Manager with actions.
• Attend meetings and assist in recruiting and developing catering staff.

Job description

Job Description: Chef/Cook

Location: Cheadle Grange, 263A Edgeley Road, Stockport

Job Type: Permanent, Full-time (30 hours per week, includes occasional evenings and weekends)

Salary:

Sponsorship: Not currently available

Join Highgate Care - Where Kindness Is Key

At Highgate Care, kindness isn’t just something we talk about, it’s the foundation of everything we do. As a small and compassionate care group, we pride ourselves on offering truly person-centred care, where every resident is valued, supported, and able to thrive. We believe in celebrating individuality, promoting dignity and above all, living by our core value: Kindness Is Key.

We’re currently looking for an Chef/Cook to join the team at Cheadle Grange, 263A Edgeley Road, Stockport . If you’re someone who naturally brings warmth, energy and creativity wherever you go, and you love the idea of making each day meaningful for our residents, this could be the perfect role for you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• To plan, prepare and cook a variety of meals which are appealing, nutritious and centres around residents’ preferences, requests or any special dietary requirements, to follow Highgate Care Homes’ Good Food Guide and, where appropriate, make amendments after authorisation from Head Office.
• To be active and encouraging, provide advice and guidance for the team ensuring that Highgate is a friendly, supportive working environment.
• Responsible for the supervision and appraisals of the Kitchen Team.
• Interview applicants for vacancies within the Kitchen Team.
• To understand and comply with statutory and legal requirements such as HACCP, Health and Safety, COSHH, Environmental Health, ensuring a safe environment within the home.
• Implement, monitor and maintain cleaning schedules that meet the requirements of the Food Safety Manual, and ensure that all areas of the kitchen are immaculately clean. This will include the washing up of pots, pans and dishes when required.
• Ensure sufficient food stocks are ordered and received from approved suppliers and that stock rotation is taking place to maintain optimum freshness of all foodstuff ensuring the highest quality expected within Highgate Care Home.
• Responsible for all kitchen equipment ensuring it is in full, safe working order, reporting any damage or faults to the Handyman and Home Manager and following up any appropriate action.
• To be an active member of the Highgate team, contribute to team meetings, and assist the Home Manager with the selection, interviewing, induction and on-going development of catering staff.
• To be understanding towards residents and their needs and attend resident/relative meetings. Regularly monitor and assess resident’s satisfaction with the catering service provided in their home, and respond accordingly and positively to ideas and feedback.

What We’re Looking For

• Warm, approachable, and brimming with positivity
• Organised, reliable, and confident in planning.
• Creative, enthusiastic, and able to motivate others
• Passionate about improving the lives of older people
• Willing to participate in Staff and Resident meetings as and when required
• Previous experience in a care setting is a bonus, but we’re just as interested in your personality and values

What We Offer

• A friendly, supportive, and welcoming workplace
• Real opportunities for ongoing training and career progression
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives every day
• A valued role within a close-knit team that cares as much about each other as we do our residents

If you believe that kindness and compassion should be at the heart of care, we’d love to hear from you.