Head Chef

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Milton Keynes is seeking a Head Chef to manage kitchen operations. In this role, you will inspire your team to deliver nutritious meals, ensuring food safety and compliance while creating welcoming dining experiences for residents. Required qualifications include an S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality and a Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate. Additionally, you will receive a £1,000 welcome bonus, enhanced DBS support, and various company benefits including a pension scheme and flexible access to pay.

Benefits

£1,000 welcome bonus

Paid Enhanced DBS/PVG

Free uniform

28 days annual leave

Company pension scheme

Wagestream access

GP online consultation

Employee Assistance Programme

Colleague discounts

Recognition schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in a care or residential kitchen setting.
• Good understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• Ability to motivate and lead a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage the kitchen efficiently and oversee stock and budgets.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards.
• Inspire the kitchen team to deliver high-quality meals.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Food safety knowledge

Education

S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Job Overview

Its 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 £1,000 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. 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 that we call Kindness the HC‑One Way: We are curious, asking questions; we are compassionate, walking in the shoes of others; we are creative, finding practical ways to make things happen; we are courageous, supporting residents to live the life they choose; and we are dependable, people can always count on us.

Job responsibilities

As a Head Chef at HC‑One, kindness is at the heart of everything you do. You’ll inspire your kitchen team to deliver high‑quality, nutritious meals that our Residents will genuinely enjoy. You’ll ensure every dish supports our Residents’ health and wellbeing, considering individual dietary needs, cultural preferences, and nutritional requirements. 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. Great food in a welcoming environment can make a real difference to our Residents’ quality of life.

We're 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 therefore it is important that you are able to recognise the signs which may indicate possible abuse, harm or neglect in its different forms and know what to do if there are any 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

• £1,000 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 – a service providing around the clock GP consultation via an interactive app – available to you and your children under 16
• An opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues as part of an outstanding and committed team.
• Colleague discounts – access to over 1600 high street discounts including carefully selected discount partners.
• Wellbeing – free of charge access to an independent and confidential Employee Assistance Programme, giving colleagues and their families access to 24/7 365 support for a whole range of issues including physical, mental and financial issues.
• Excellent recognition schemes such as Kindness in Care and Long Service Awards.
• An attractive refer a friend scheme of up to £1,000 per referral, depending on the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

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

Experience

• A minimum Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Additional Criteria

• Experience in a care or residential kitchen setting.

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.