Head Chef

Runwood Care Homes; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days paid holiday

Weekly pay

Pension scheme

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Scheme

Induction and training

Free DBS check and uniform

NVQ funding

Career progression

Employee of the Month

Job summary

Runwood Homes is seeking a proactive Head Chef to join our Hospitality team in England. You will deliver hotel and restaurant standard meals with full autonomy over menus, while engaging with residents in menu creation and maintaining budget controls.

Responsibilities include leading kitchen staff, managing stock, ensuring safety and quality, and liaising with management to meet dietary requirements and maintain high customer satisfaction. Excellent leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering environment.
• Strong understanding of dietary and nutritional requirements.
• Intermediate/Advanced Food Hygiene certificate and HACCP knowledge.
• Experience achieving food margins and costing menus.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen team to deliver meals to a high standard within budget.
• Train and develop staff, ensuring safety and compliance.
• Manage stock and costs, maintaining food margins.
• Liaise with residents to incorporate preferences into menus.
• Ensure food safety, HACCP adherence, and health and safety policies.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Staff training

Menu planning

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication

Dietary requirements understanding

Education

Intermediate/Advanced Food Hygiene certificate

HACCP knowledge

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Head Chef to join our Hospitality team. Working as a Head Chef at Runwood Homes, you will have the chance to deliver hotel and restaurant standard meals without the split shifts and long hours. Our Head Chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus, whilst liaising with residents to ensure they are involved in the menu creations. We are looking for a warm, motivated, and passionate Head Chef who is driven by quality and high standards, to deliver person-centred hospitality to our residents. Work within the agreed company budget.

• Ensure all kitchen staff are trained on dish specification and budget control.
• Manage the stock in the kitchen.
• Inspire and motivate the team to achieve food to specification and therefore ensure satisfaction of our residents.
• Lead by example, setting the pace and standards.
• Meet monthly with the management team to ensure dietary requirements for all residents are met.
• Train and develop the team to deliver food to specification and exceed residents' expectations.
• Ensure all food is cooked to a safe temperature and is taste tested before serving.
• Ensure that the storage of food meets company and statutory health and safety requirements.
• Deliver the company kitchen standards as identified on the kitchen audit.
• Implement and ensure the company Health and Safety policy is met at all times - this includes the training of all kitchen staff.

The successful Head Chef will have relevant experience within a catering environment. You will have a secure understanding of special dietary and nutritional requirements, and be able to implement methods to ensure these needs are met. You will also have your Intermediate/Advanced Food Hygiene certificate, and a full understanding of H.A.C.C.P. You will be responsible for ensuring this is adhered to, and all relevant documentation is completed.

Additionally, you will have experience in achieving food margins, and writing and planning menus with costing.

As a Head Chef, you will possess excellent leadership skills, and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.

Established in 1987, Runwood Homes is a leading provider of residential care, dementia care, and nursing care services, with a portfolio of 55 homes across England. Our commitment to delivering personalised care is at the core of our mission, as we strive to celebrate the lives of each and every one of our residents.

At Runwood Homes, we prioritise the professional development of our staff by investing in comprehensive internal, external, and e-training programs at all levels. This dedication to continuous learning and growth ensures that our team is equipped to provide the highest quality of care to our residents.

As we look towards the future, our reputation for delivering innovative care for individuals living with dementia continues to flourish. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of care excellence and setting new standards in the industry.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of adults. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

• 28 days Paid Holiday
• Weekly Pay
• Pension Scheme
• Blue Light Card and access to various other discounts on travel, restaurants, days out and leisure
• Employee Assistance Scheme that is also available to immediate family members
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing training
• Free DBS Check and uniform
• Funding and support towards obtaining NVQs
• Opportunities to progress your career within the company
• Employee of the Month awards