Head Chef

Belsize Healthcare; Bearsden; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PVG paid

Pension

Uniform provided

Annual leave 5.6 weeks

Job summary

Buchanan Lodge Care Home in Bearsden, part of Belsize Healthcare, is seeking a Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen delivering nutritious meals for residents and on-site nursery meals.

You'll oversee menu planning, food preparation, stock control and budgets, ensuring dietary needs are met and meals are presented with quality and safety at the forefront. We offer a supportive team and clear opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards.
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Good understanding of dietary requirements and food safety.
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team and set high standards.
• Plan menus, food preparation, and dietary accommodation.
• Manage stock, ordering, and budgets to minimise waste.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards.
• Provide training and development for the kitchen staff.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Dietary awareness

Food safety

Reliability

Proactivity

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2

Job description

Nestled in the quiet, leafy suburb of Bearsden in North Glasgow, Buchanan Lodge Care Home is a thoughtfully converted former convent, blending historic charm with modern comforts. We provide Residential, Nursing, Respite, and Dementia care for 38 residents, and we also support an on-site Nursery, providing meals for up to 70 children (Monday - Friday). We’re looking for a talented Head Chef to join our kitchen team, supported by the cook & kitchen assistant to create seasonal menus and leading our team in a fast-paced, rewarding environment.

Head Chef Contract

• £15.18 per hour
• Contracted to 40 hours per week (4 days over 7 weejends included)
• Paid PVG, pension, uniform provided
• 5.6 weeks annual leave (based on a full time contract)

No late evenings or split shifts, offering a consistent working pattern and genuine work life balance, alongside ongoing training, development and clear opportunities for career progression within a well structured and supportive environment.

Role Overview

As Head Chef, you will take full ownership of the kitchen, leading from the front to deliver high quality, nutritious and enjoyable meals that are central to daily life. This is a role where your leadership and standards will shape the entire dining experience, creating meals that residents look forward to every day.

You will drive all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu planning and food preparation to stock control, compliance and team performance. Working with fresh ingredients, you will ensure meals are tailored to individual dietary needs while maintaining consistently high standards of presentation, nutrition and food safety.

With a strong focus on efficiency and cost control, you will manage stock, ordering and budgets effectively, minimising waste while ensuring quality is never compromised.

Leading and developing your team, you will build a well organised, motivated and high performing kitchen. This role offers a rare opportunity to combine strong leadership, quality food and a better work life balance.

What We Are Looking For

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen
• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Good understanding of dietary requirements and food safety
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach

About Us

Buchanan Lodge Care Home is part of Belsize Healthcare, a division of Care Concern Group, a family owned, market leading care provider with a strong and growing presence across the United Kingdom. We are committed to creating safe, welcoming care homes for our residents and developing supportive workplaces where our teams can grow and thrive.

Our five core values Trust|Respect|Passion|Kindness|Inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do, shaping the care we deliver and the environments we create. If you share these values and want to build or develop your career in care, we would love to hear from you.