Head Chef

HC-One; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care provider in Manchester is seeking a Head Chef to manage kitchen operations while ensuring high-quality nutritious meals for residents. The ideal candidate should hold an S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery along with a Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate. You will inspire your team, maintain hygiene standards, and collaborate with central teams, enhancing the residents' dining experience. A £500 welcome bonus is offered, alongside various benefits including a company pension scheme and 28 days annual leave.

Benefits

£500 welcome bonus

Free uniform

Paid Enhanced DBS/PVG

Company pension scheme

28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays

Access to colleague discounts on 1600+ high street partners

Employee Assistance Programme for colleague wellbeing

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering role within a care home or similar setting is desirable.
• Knowledge in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is required.
• Completing safeguarding training appropriate to the role.

Responsibilities

• Manage kitchen operations efficiently while ensuring hygiene and safety.
• Inspire the kitchen team to deliver high-quality meals to residents.
• Collaborate with central teams to uphold nutritional excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Team motivation

Organizational skills

Hygiene knowledge

Catering skills

Education

S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Overview

As a Head Chef at HC-One, kindness is at the heart of everything you do. It’s a quality that touches every part of life in our Dementia, Nursing, Residential, and Specialist care homes. Everyone who works here understands that our Residents are individuals, each with their own life stories and by joining HC-One, you’ll have the opportunity to give something meaningful back to them through your care and commitment. This role includes a £500 welcome bonus.

Main duties of the job

With hygiene and safety always front of mind, you’ll take responsibility for managing the kitchen efficiently, overseeing stock, budgets, orders, and compliance with food safety standards such as HACCP. You’ll work closely with central teams to maintain nutritional excellence while running a smooth, well-organised kitchen operation. You’ll also play a vital role in shaping mealtimes into enjoyable, ambient dining experiences. After all, great food in a welcoming environment can make a real difference to our Residents’ quality of life.

About us

At HC-One, kindness is more than a word—it’s a way of life. We believe that caring for people means caring about what matters most to them, so we can support them to live their best possible lives. To provide the kindest possible care, everyone at HC-One brings and nurtures five key qualities we call Kindness the HC-One Way: curious, compassionate, creative, courageous, and dependable. We champion inclusivity and are enhancing our digital care planning and growth of our digital capabilities, with support for personal and professional development.

Job responsibilities

As a Head Chef at HC-One, kindness is at the heart of everything you do. This role involves ensuring residents receive high-quality, nutritious meals that meet individual dietary needs, cultural preferences, and nutritional requirements, while maintaining hygiene and safety standards and managing stock, budgets, and orders in line with HACCP.

We are looking for someone who can inspire the kitchen team and contribute to a welcoming dining environment that supports residents’ quality of life. We are also seeking someone who can work with central teams to maintain nutritional excellence and a well-organised operation.

Were looking for someone with:

• An S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery
• A minimum Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate
• A good understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)

Beyond qualifications, we value your energy, leadership, and ability to motivate others. You’ll be organised, able to plan ahead, and take pride in delivering excellent service every day. Most importantly, you’ll be kind, considerate, and committed to making our care homes a great place to live and work.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and it is important that you are able to recognise signs which may indicate possible abuse, harm or neglect in its different forms and know what to do if there are concerns. All colleagues are required to attend safeguarding training appropriate to their role and to undertake additional training in associated areas. You also have the ability to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, including escalation if action is not taken.

Rewards & Benefits

You will enjoy access to a huge variety of benefits and services to support your physical and psychological well-being throughout your career as a Head Chef, with ongoing investment in your development:

• £500 welcome bonus
• Hourly rate is subject to experience and qualifications
• Paid Enhanced DBS/PVG
• Free uniform
• During a shift of eight hours or more a nutritious meal will be available
• Company pension scheme
• 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• Group life assurance cover
• Wagestream - financial wellbeing and flexible access to pay as you need it
• Award-winning learning and development and support to achieve qualifications
• GP online - around-the-clock GP consultation via app
• Access to colleague discounts on 1600+ high street partners
• Wellbeing - Employee Assistance Programme for colleagues and families
• Recognition schemes such as Kindness in Care and Long Service Awards
• Refer a friend scheme up to £1000 per referral

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery
• A good understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)

Experience

• Experience in a catering role within a care home or similar setting is desirable

Additional Criteria

• Safeguarding training appropriate to the role

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.