Head Chef

Care Concern Group; Lees; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced DBS

Uniform provided

Group life assurance cover

Wagestream - financial wellbeing

Job summary

Avalon Park Care Home in Oldham is seeking a Head Chef to lead kitchen operations, plan menus and ensure nutritious meals for residents. You will manage stock, budgets and dietary needs, while maintaining high standards of quality, safety and presentation.

The role offers ongoing training, development and clear opportunities for career progression within Care Concern Group, a family-owned UK care provider committed to quality care and supportive workplaces.

Qualifications

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Good understanding of dietary requirements and food safety.
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations, menu planning and food preparation.
• Manage stock, ordering and budgets with a focus on cost control and minimal waste.
• Ensure meals meet individual dietary needs and maintain high safety and presentation standards.
• Lead and develop the kitchen team for high performance and career progression.

Skills

Leadership

Food safety

Kitchen management

Dietary requirements

Food hygiene certificate

Education

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

About Avalon Park Care Home Avalon Park Care Home in Oldham provides residential and residential dementia care for older people. With 58 bedrooms, the home offers a welcoming environment focused on person centred care, wellbeing and independence. As part of the team, you will work alongside experienced colleagues in a supportive environment, helping residents enjoy meaningful daily lives while developing your skills and experience.

Head Chef Contract £16.20 - £16.80 per hour Contracted to 40 hours per week Paid PVG/DBS, pension, uniform provided 5.6 weeks annual leave (based on a full time contract) Alternate weekends Hours 7am - 6pm No late evenings or split shifts, offering a consistent working pattern and genuine work life balance, alongside ongoing training, development and clear opportunities for career progression within a well structured and supportive environment.

Role Overview As Head Chef, you will take full ownership of the kitchen, leading from the front to deliver high quality, nutritious and enjoyable meals that are central to daily life. This is a role where your leadership and standards will shape the entire dining experience, creating meals that residents look forward to every day. You will drive all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu planning and food preparation to stock control, compliance and team performance. Working with fresh ingredients, you will ensure meals are tailored to individual dietary needs while maintaining consistently high standards of presentation, nutrition and food safety. With a strong focus on efficiency and cost control, you will manage stock, ordering and budgets effectively, minimising waste while ensuring quality is never compromised. Leading and developing your team, you will build a well organised, motivated and high performing kitchen. This role offers a rare opportunity to combine strong leadership, quality food and a better work life balance.

What We Are Looking For

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen
• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Good understanding of dietary requirements and food safety
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach

What We Offer

• Paid
• Enhanced DBS
• Uniform provided
• Group life assurance cover
• Wagestream - financial wellbeing support and flexible access to earned pay
• A nutritious meal during shifts of eight hours or more
• GP Online for you and your dependants under 16
• Access to more than 1,600 high-street and online discounts
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, 365 days a year
• Award-winning learning and development, with support to achieve recognised qualifications
• Clear opportunities for career development and progression
• Recognition initiatives and Long Service Awards

About Care Concern Group

Avalon Park is part of Care Concern Group, a family-owned, market-leading care provider with a strong and growing presence across the UK. We are committed to delivering high-quality care and creating supportive, rewarding workplaces where our colleagues can grow, develop and thrive. Our five values Trust|Respect|Passion|Kindness|Inclusivity shape how we care, how we work and how we support one another. If you want a role where your experience is valued, your character matters and your work has genuine purpose, we would love to hear from you.

TPBN1_UKTJ