Head Chef

Elysium Healthcare; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave incl bankholidays

Career development and training

Wellbeing support

Free meals onsite

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Elysium Healthcare is seeking a Head Chef to lead the Farndon Unit kitchen, delivering high‑standard meals for staff and service users. You’ll manage a kitchen team, plan menus, and ensure compliance with nutrition, safety, and company policies.

With a five-day week, no evenings, and a focus on work‑life balance, you’ll train staff, oversee stock and equipment, and contribute to a calm, customer‑oriented dining service within a busy hospital setting.

Qualifications

• GCSE or equivalent English qualification.
• Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC) with Health & Safety and Food Hygiene certificates.
• City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 (Basic Food Preparation Cooking).
• Basic Food Hygiene (essential).
• Experience in a similar environment.
• Management or supervisory qualification.
• Experience delivering a mass catering service.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day catering team to run efficient food production.
• Ensure meals meet nutritional and dietary needs.
• Provide meals to staff/visitors per company policies.
• Lead menu planning with varied diet within budget.
• Report maintenance/servicing needs to Facilities.
• Seek feedback; standardise seasonal menu items.
• Address complaints; assist investigations.
• Oversee stock and equipment in production areas.
• Manage staff rosters; plan agency/overtime within budget.
• Assist monthly catering audits to maintain standards.

Skills

Staff management

Menu planning

Budgeting

Stock management

Quality control

Procurement

HACCP/Health & Safety

Customer service

Education

GCSE English

Catering Diploma & Health & Safety & Food Hygiene certificates

City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 Basic Food Preparation

Basic Food Hygiene certificate

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 keeping the stress levels low.

You will be leading an established kitchen team at The Farndon Unit in Farndon nearNewark overseeing the preparation oflarge-scale meals for the staff and service users. Your role extends beyond the kitchen, as you provide guidance and training to support your team.

There are regular activities, events and special occasions throughout the year which you’ll also cater for – world food day, Christmas, Easter, family day etc. In other words, plenty of chance to be creative and do something different.

It’s a calm and pleasurable working environment, where you’ll be able to manage your workload and enjoy creating delicious meals. There’s a great social aspect to this role where you can interact with people outside the kitchen regularly.

You and your catering team will run the kitchen to hotel/restaurant standards, ensuring a smooth operation with a clean kitchen, tasty menu and happy ‘customers’.

Just imagine… great job satisfaction, home in time for dinner every night and two days off a week. Now that’s a recipe for a balanced work-life combo.

As a Head Chef you will be:

• Coordinating the day-to-day management of the catering team to run an efficient food production service
• Ensuring that the catering service meets the nutritional and dietary needs of the service users
• Ensuring the catering service provides meals to staff and company visitors in accordance with the Company policies and procedures
• Taking the lead in the production of a menu plan, providing a varied diet within budgetary restraints
• Ensuring that any maintenance and servicing of catering equipment or the environment is reported to Facilities Manager/maintenance
• Seek feedback, develop and standardise seasonal menu items to ensure nutritious and high-quality food is produced
• Responding to any reported complaints or incidents, assisting with investigation and referring any unresolved complaints
• Responsible for stock management and equipment in the production areas, reporting issues or concerns
• Managing efficient staff rotas, plan agency and overtime cover and ensure absences are covered within agreed budgets
• Assisting in the completion of monthly audits of the catering provision to ensure standards are maintained

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• GCSE or equivalent English
• Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC) and Health & Safety and Food Hygiene Certificates
• City & Guilds 706/1 and 2 (or equivalent) Basic Food Preparation Cooking
• Basic Food Hygiene (essential)
• Previous experience in a similar environment
• Management/Supervisory Qualification
• Previous experience in delivering a service on mass
• Menu Planning, costing, ordering, stock control and budget experience

Where you will be working:

Location: Farndon Rd, Newark NG24 4SW

The Farndon Unit is a purpose-built hospital which provides services across low secure, rehabilitation and acute inpatient settings for women with Mental Health and personality disorder diagnoses.

Our combination of low secure wards and a rehabilitation ward area (also within the low secure perimeter) provide a seamless internal care pathway supporting and empowering patients in their recovery and rehabilitation prior to discharge. Our on-site facilities include large and attractive en-suite bedrooms, disabled facilities, secure courtyard and garden, patient café, gym, salon, and activity hall.

What You’ll Get:

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future
• Free meals and onsite free parking

About your next employer:

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 80 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure.