Head Chef

Porthaven Care Homes; Kidlington; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bank holiday enhancements

Refer-a-Friend bonus

Blue Light Card discount

Colleague discounts

FlexEarn

Wellbeing support

Online GP

Training & development

Company pension

Cycle to work

Free on-site parking

Free uniform

Free enhanced DBS

Job summary

Porthaven Care Homes – Lincroft Meadow Care Home, The Moors, Kidlington OX5 2AA – is seeking a Head Chef for our busy kitchen. You will lead the catering team, design seasonal menus, and ensure nutritious, home-cooked meals that residents genuinely enjoy.

We offer a competitive salary, generous bank holiday enhancements, free DBS, training and development, corporate pension, and a strong commitment to work‑life balance in a supportive care home environment.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 in Catering & Hospitality or equivalent.
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to enrol.
• Natural ability to lead, inspire, and mentor others.
• Reliability and confidence across kitchen operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the catering team to high standards.
• Create seasonal, nutritious menus within budget.
• Manage stock and kitchen operations efficiently.
• Deliver high-quality meals that support residents' wellbeing.
• Respond to individual dietary needs with care.

Skills

Leadership & mentoring

Reliability

Kitchen operations

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Catering & Hospitality

Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Lincroft Meadow Care Home, The Moors, Kidlington OX5 2AA

Full Time Position - 40 Hours Weekly - 8am to 6pm, No Late Nights - Alternative Weekends

Make a difference to people's lives every day with a rewarding career at Porthaven Care Homes. Whether you are new to the care sector or have experience, working within a Porthaven Care Home can be incredibly fulfilling. Join us as a Head Chef and enjoy a role with genuine work-life balance, where you can use your culinary expertise to deliver an exceptional dining and hospitality experience for our residents.

What Porthaven Care Homes Offers:

• Great pay with a competitive salary
• Double pay on specific Bank Holidays and time-and-a-half on all other Bank Holidays, because your time matters!
• Refer-a-Friend Bonus - earn up to £1,000!
• Blue Light Card Discount
• Colleague Perks & Discounts across high-street brands
• FlexEarn - access a portion of your wages before payday
• Wellbeing Support through our Employee Assistance Programme
• Online GP services for you and your family
• Fully funded training & development for your career growth
• Company pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free on-site parking
• Free uniform
• Free enhanced DBS provided.

About you:

You're someone who thrives managing a busy commercial kitchen and brings energy, passion, and pride to everything you do. Experience in a care home kitchen is a bonus, but not essential, what matters most is your drive to deliver great food with care. You'll also bring:

• An NVQ Level 2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery, or be willing to enrol
• A Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate, or be willing to enrol
• A natural ability to lead, inspire, and mentor others
• Reliability and confidence across all areas of kitchen operations.

About the role:

As Head Chef, you'll take the lead in creating a dining experience our residents thoroughly enjoy, while guiding and inspiring your kitchen team to deliver excellence every day. Your passion for home cooked, great seasonal food and thoughtful menu design will help ensure every meal is nutritious, well-balanced, and full of flavour. You will also:

• Lead and mentor the catering team, ensuring high standards across all aspects of service
• Create seasonal, nutritious menus, making the most of your budget
• Manage stock and kitchen operations efficiently and responsibly
• Deliver high-quality meals that enhance our residents' wellbeing and support them to live well
• Respond to individual dietary needs with care and attention.

The successful candidate will be subject to the provision of satisfactory references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and they must be authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

Porthaven are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant pledging our commitment and support to the Armed Forces community, veterans, reservists and their families.