Head Chef

Chandlers Ford Care Home; Chandler's Ford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced DBS

Uniform provided

Group life assurance

Wagestream

Nutritious meals on shifts

GP Online for dependants

Discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning & development

Career development

Long Service Awards

Job summary

Chandlers Ford Care Home in Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, is seeking a proactive Head Chef to lead the kitchen, plan menus, and ensure nutritious, well-presented meals for residents. You will manage stock, budgets, and staff to maintain high standards of food safety and quality in a supportive home environment.

The role offers a clear career path, ongoing training, and a balanced work pattern with no late shifts. Experience in a care-home or healthcare catering setting is preferred.

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 kitchen operations, from menu planning to food preparation.
• Manage stock control, ordering and budgets.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and regulations.
• Develop a high-performing kitchen team.
• Deliver nutritious meals tailored to dietary needs with quality presentation.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Dietary requirements knowledge

Food safety knowledge

Proactive attitude

Quality-focused

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or equivalent

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

About Chandlers Ford Care Home
Chandlers Ford Care Home is a 41 bed, purpose built care home in the village of Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, on the eastern edge of the South Downs National Park. Providing residential and nursing care, the home offers a welcoming and close knit environment with bright, stylish living spaces, an enclosed garden and comfortable shared areas. Colleagues are part of a supportive team that works together to provide high quality, person centred care and ensure Residents feel valued and supported.

Head Chef Contract

• £16.20 to £16.80 per hour
• Contracted to 40 hours per week
• Paid DBS, 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

What We Offer

• Paid Enhanced DBS
• Uniform provided
• Group life assurance cover
• Wagestream - financial wellbeing support and flexible access to earned pay
• A nutritious meal during shifts of eight hours or more
• GP Online for you and your dependants under 16
• Access to more than 1,600 high-street and online discounts
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, 365 days a year
• Award-winning learning and development, with support to achieve recognised qualifications
• Clear opportunities for career development and progression
• Recognition initiatives and Long Service Awards

About Care Concern Group
Chandlers Ford is part of Care Concern Group, a family-owned, market-leading care provider with a strong and growing presence across the UK. We are committed to delivering high-quality care and creating supportive, rewarding workplaces where our colleagues can grow, develop and thrive.
Our five values Trust | Respect | Passion | Kindness | Inclusivity shape how we care, how we work and how we support one another.
If you want a role where your experience is valued, your character matters and your work has genuine purpose, we would love to hear from you.