Head Chef

TLC Care; Chipping Barnet; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

TLC Care is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen at one of our care homes, delivering high-quality meals for residents and ensuring strict hygiene standards are maintained.

You will recruit and develop kitchen staff, plan menus with dietary requirements (Kosher, Halal, vegan, vegetarian), manage food costs, orders and stock, and uphold food safety systems in line with regulations. This role offers opportunities to influence resident dining experiences within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Good communication skills and team leadership required.
• Ability to work on own initiative in a busy kitchen.
• Strong interpersonal skills for staff and residents.
• Experience supervising kitchen staff and service delivery.
• Knowledge of dietary requirements and dietary accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment and development of kitchen team.
• Audit and ensure kitchen adheres to EHO/Hygiene standards.
• Plan menus, including Kosher, Halal, vegan and vegetarian options.
• Monitor and control food costs within budget.
• Prepare and serve meals ensuring high-quality standards.
• Manage ordering, stock takes and rota planning.
• Oversee food safety management systems and training.

Skills

Good communication

Own initiative

Team player

Education

City & Guilds Level 1 & 2 or equivalent

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

At TLC Care, our focus is quality of life and our approach to specialised nursing, residential and dementia care is, we believe, second to none, with dedicated highly-trained carers and nurses on hand 24 hours a day to provide assistance to meet the needs and wishes of each individual resident.

TLC Care have care homes across London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Surrey.

TLC Care have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to support the first class food service at their care home.

We are looking for a candidate who has a passion for cooking to join our award winning team where you will have the opportunity to expand your culinary skills.

The main purpose of the Head Chef's role is to organise and control the efficient and economic production of quality food within the budget, whilst maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in line with EHO regulations.

Food preparation will be expected to be of a very high standard and will include:

Preparing, cooking and serving hot and cold meals, as and when required.

Providing for special dietary requirements and take into account the preferences of individual residents, which will include preparing Kosher, Halal, vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

The Head Chef will also be required to -

• Recruitment of kitchen team members
• Auditing & ensuring the kitchen adheres to EHO Regulations
• Follows the IDDSI framework and ensuring all dietary requirements are met
• Good Leadership skills
• Timely production of a 4 week kitchen rota
• Assist with training of the kitchen team.
• Development of menus using sustainable produce
• Placing orders
• Monthly stock take
• Monitor and control food cost within budgeted guidelines.
• Oversee the food safety management system.

At TLC we believe that our people are at the heart of all we do, and we provide a warm, open and welcoming culture in which you will have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow whilst enriching the lives of others. ...We offer amazing career progression opportunities across all of our departments and believe in a one team approach where we share and celebrate our team successes, working in line always with our core values of Truth, Love and Compassion. If you are committed to providing outstanding care with warm, kindness and empathy then do take the opportunity to apply for a role and join our TLC Family.

Requirements

• City & Guilds Level 1 & 2, or equivalent (achieved or working towards)
• Basic Food / Hygiene Certificate
• Previous supervisor experience
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Team player