Head Chef

Austin Fraser; Long Lee; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare company is seeking a Head Chef for its facility in Long Lee, England. This role balances culinary leadership with a positive work-life dynamic, as it offers no evening shifts and a five-day work week. The Head Chef will oversee a team, manage menu planning, ensure nutritional standards, and maintain quality service while enjoying a calm work environment.

Benefits

33 days annual leave plus birthday off

Free meals and parking

Wellbeing support and activities

Career development opportunities

Enhanced maternity package

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar environment.
• Basic and Intermediate Food Hygiene certifications.
• Skills in stock control and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team, ensuring quality food production.
• Plan and manage menus within budget constraints.
• Handle complaints and maintain catering standards.

Skills

Food Hygiene

Menu Planning

Team Management

Education

GCSE or equivalent in English

Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC)

Management/Supervisory Qualification

Job description

Ever imagined being a Head Chef and still having a social life? Experience the blend of being a Head Chef while maintaining a vibrant life outside of work.

This role offers a refreshing change from the typical culinary demands—no evenings, a five-day work week, and low stress levels.

You will lead an established kitchen team at Three Valleys in Keighley, overseeing large-scale meal preparation for staff and service users. Your role extends beyond the kitchen, providing guidance and training to support your team.

There are regular activities, events, and special occasions throughout the year—world food day, Christmas, Easter, family day, etc.—offering plenty of opportunities to be creative and try something different.

It’s a calm and enjoyable working environment where you can manage your workload and enjoy creating delicious meals. The role also offers a great social aspect, allowing regular interaction with people outside the kitchen.

You and your catering team will run the kitchen to hotel/restaurant standards, ensuring smooth operation, a clean environment, tasty menus, and satisfied 'customers'.

Imagine… great job satisfaction, home in time for dinner every night, and two days off each week. That’s a recipe for a balanced work-life.

As a Head Chef, you will be:

• Coordinating the daily management of the catering team to ensure efficient food production.
• Ensuring the catering service meets nutritional and dietary needs.
• Providing meals to staff and visitors according to company policies.
• Leading menu planning, offering a varied diet within budget.
• Reporting maintenance and servicing issues of catering equipment or environment.
• Seeking feedback, developing, and standardizing seasonal menu items for high-quality, nutritious food.
• Responding to complaints or incidents, assisting investigations, and referring unresolved issues.
• Managing stock and equipment, reporting concerns.
• Planning staff rotas, managing agency and overtime cover, and covering absences within budget.
• Assisting with monthly audits to maintain standards.

To be successful, you will have:

• GCSE or equivalent in English
• Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC), Health & Safety, and Food Hygiene Certificates
• City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 (or equivalent) in Basic Food Preparation and Cooking
• Basic Food Hygiene (essential)
• Intermediate Food Hygiene (desirable)
• Experience in a similar environment
• Management/Supervisory Qualification
• Experience in delivering mass catering services
• Menu planning, costing, ordering, stock control, and budgeting experience

Location: 2 Burley Court, Steeton, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD20 6TU. Join the multidisciplinary team at Three Valleys Hospital, caring for people with complex mental health issues in a safe environment.

Services across five wards, including a dementia service, with spacious, homely communal areas and en-suite bedrooms.

What you will get:

• Annual salary of £28,500
• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus your birthday off
• Free meals and parking
• Wellbeing support and activities
• Career development and training opportunities
• Pension contributions
• Life assurance
• Enhanced maternity package

Additional benefits include retail discounts and other offers.

About your next employer:

Working for an established, stable company with over 8,000 employees across a network of 90+ services in England and Wales, covering mental health, neurological, learning disabilities, autism, and children’s services. Opportunities for growth and advancement are available.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care, operating in 10 countries with over 86,000 employees worldwide.

We follow safer recruitment practices, are a Disability Confident employer, and are committed to inclusive recruitment. All staff are responsible for safeguarding service users’ welfare. A DBS check is required.