Head Chef

Signature; Greater London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to £48,000 per annum

Private medical insurance

Company sick pay

Life Assurance Scheme

Blue Light discount scheme

Refer A Friend £50 voucher, up to £1,k

Purple Heart Award

Ongoing career training and dev

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Study support

Long service awards

Job summary

Signature Senior Lifestyle is seeking a Head Chef for our luxury care and nursing home in Hornchurch. You will lead a kitchen team, craft menus for residents, and drive excellence in dining experiences that are nutritious, seasonal, and cost-aware.

We value passionate, proactive leaders with NVQ Level 3 in Catering Services, supervisory experience, COSHH/Health & Safety awareness, and a clean driving licence. Join a supportive, development-focused team in a premium setting.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Catering Services.
• Supervisory experience in a busy kitchen.
• COSHH awareness and Health & Safety knowledge.
• Full, clean driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team including a Sous Chef, Chefs de Partie and Commis Chefs.
• Create and evolve menus for residents, ensuring quality and variety.
• Ensure meals are delicious, seasonal and cost-effective with nutritional needs met.
• Oversee kitchen operations and maintain high hygiene and standards.

Skills

Leadership & team management

Kitchen management

Food safety & COSHH

Dietary requirements

Driving licence

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Catering Services

Job description

Take charge of our superbly-equipped kitchen, and bring your passion, flair and experience to create amazing menus which inspire our team and delight our diners! Join Signature Senior Lifestyle as the Head Chef at our luxury care and nursing home in Hornchurch.

What Signature Offer

• Up to £48,000 per annum
• Shit times: 07.00-15.00 / 11.00-19.00 / 07.00-19.00
• Up to 30 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays, depending on length of service
• Workplace pension
• Free meals on shift for staff working 6+ hours
• Private medical insurance and company sick pay
• Life Assurance Scheme
• 'Blue Light' discount scheme eligible
• Refer A Friend Incentive £50 voucher and up to £1,000 cash bonus
• Staff recognition scheme - Purple Heart Award
• Ongoing career training and development
• Employee Assistance Programme, occupational health support and wellbeing services
• Plus cycle to work scheme, study support, long service awards and more

Transport Links

• Commuting - Emerson Park nearest train station

Your Role at Signature

The Head Chef is the heart and soul of our kitchen, in charge of creating a menu that offers our residents an unrivalled dining experience. You'll help create and evolve the food offering across all areas of our community to produce the highest standards, ensuring food is delicious, seasonal and cost-effective. You'll be confident devising dishes for special dietary requirements, whatever the expectations of our diners, while meeting all their nutritional needs.

You’ll also be leading a team, managing and developing a Sous Chef, Chefs de Partie and Commis Chefs, helping them to grow and develop.

What we’re looking for

We are kind and compassionate. Positive and resilient. Proactive and organised. Honest and accountable. Passionate and keen to develop. If this sounds like you, you'll fit right in.

You're a confident leader, well versed in how to manage a busy kitchen, with NVQ Level 3 in Catering Services. Supervisory experience, awareness of COSHH, working knowledge of Health & Safety and a full, clean driving licence are a big advantage.

About Signature

Signature Senior Lifestyle offer unrivalled residential and dementia care in luxury homes. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and make a real difference to our residents' lives. Our team is one of our biggest assets. We cultivate a supportive environment for our people, with tailored training and career development at all levels.

Wake up to the passion inside you.