Head Chef

NHS; Fontwell; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Fontwell is seeking a Head Chef to oversee kitchen operations. You will create nutrition-focused menus that delight residents, manage kitchen staff, and ensure high standards of food quality. The ideal candidate has a relevant culinary qualification, experience with seasonal produce, and a warm, engaging personality. Barchester offers a supportive work environment and rewards excellence in care, along with additional benefits to enhance your career and well-being.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus

Refer-a-friend scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Counselling and legal services

Tax code review service

Monthly staff lottery

Qualifications

• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification.
• Good understanding of nutrition and fresh, seasonal food.
• Personable and warm approach with interest in residents' wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Assist Head Chef in menu development.
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality dishes.
• Create a warm and efficient environment.
• Work within budget.
• Complete regular audits.
• Manage stock control.

Skills

Personable and warm approach

Good understanding of nutrition

Experience working with fresh seasonal food

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

The Head Chef role at Barchester Healthcare offers the opportunity to work with fresh seasonal food and have a better work-life balance, while delivering high-quality, person-centered hospitality. As a sector-leading healthcare provider, Barchester is committed to creating a warm, efficient, and supportive environment for their staff and residents.

Main duties of the job

As a Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will have the chance to work with fresh, seasonal produce to create nutritious and delicious menus that cater to the preferences of the residents. You will assist the Head Chef in menu development, manage the kitchen in their absence, and work within budget to maintain high standards of food quality and presentation. Barchester values a personable and passionate approach, and they are looking for chefs who can engage with residents to tailor the menus to their needs.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, with 224 homes and hospitals across the country. They are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centered care, and have been recognised for their outstanding ratings and positive work environment. Barchester offers a range of benefits and rewards to their staff, including a refer-a-friend scheme, access to medical specialists, and a staff lottery.

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person-centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

• NEED TO HAVE A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the residents; Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent.
• A good understanding of nutrition; experience of working with fresh seasonal food; the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home; confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus; good understanding of HACCP.

NEED TO DO

• Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Assist Head Chef in menu development.
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards.
• Create a warm, efficient and fun environment.
• Work within budget.
• Complete regular audits.
• Manage stock control.

Rewards Package

• Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection.
• Unlimited access to our generous refer-a-friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral.
• Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets.
• Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence.
• Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services.
• Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax.
• Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK* Terms & conditions apply.

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who loves to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, and have a good understanding of nutrition and experience working with fresh, seasonal food. They should also have a personable and warm approach, with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the residents.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.