Head Chef

TLC Care; Potters Bar; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

TLC Care invites applications for an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen at a care home. You will manage food preparation, plating and service, while meeting residents' dietary needs including Kosher, Halal, vegan and vegetarian options.

You will recruit and supervise kitchen staff, develop seasonal menus, control costs, and ensure compliance with EHO regulations and food safety practices in a supportive, values-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team in a care or hospitality setting.
• Knowledge of IDDSI dietary framework and dietary needs.
• Ability to manage menus, costs and stock within budget.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve hot and cold meals to residents.
• Recruit and supervise kitchen staff and rota planning.
• Audit kitchen operations to meet EHO regulations.
• Develop menus using sustainable ingredients.
• Ensure dietary requirements (Kosher, Halal, vegan) are met.
• Place orders and monitor stock levels and food costs.
• Lead training and uphold food safety systems.

Skills

Food preparation

leadership

menu development

stock management

team supervision

cost control

sanitation standards

Education

City & Guilds Level 1/2 (or equivalent)

Job description

At TLC Care, our focus is quality of life and our approach to specialised nursing, residential and dementia care is, we believe, second to none, with dedicated highly-trained carers and nurses on hand 24 hours a day to provide assistance to meet the needs and wishes of each individual resident.

TLC Care have care homes across London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Surrey.

TLC Care have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to support the first class food service at their care home.

We are looking for a candidate who has a passion for cooking to join our award winning team where you will have the opportunity to expand your culinary skills.

The main purpose of the Head Chef's role is to organise and control the efficient and economic production of quality food within the budget, whilst maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in line with EHO regulations.

Food preparation will be expected to be of a very high standard and will include:

Preparing, cooking and serving hot and cold meals, as and when required.

Providing for special dietary requirements and take into account the preferences of individual residents, which will include preparing Kosher, Halal, vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

• Recruitment of kitchen team members
• Auditing & ensuring the kitchen adheres to EHO Regulations
• Follows the IDDSI framework and ensuring all dietary requirements are met
• Good Leadership skills
• Timely production of a 4 week kitchen rota
• Assist with training of the kitchen team.
• Development of menus using sustainable produce
• Placing orders
• Monthly stock take
• Monitor and control food cost within budgeted guidelines.
• Oversee the food safety management system.

At TLC we believe that our people are at the heart of all we do, and we provide a warm, open and welcoming culture in which you will have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow whilst enriching the lives of others. ...We offer amazing career progression opportunities across all of our departments and believe in a one team approach where we share and celebrate our team successes, working in line always with our core values of Truth, Love and Compassion. If you are committed to providing outstanding care with warm, kindness and empathy then

Requirements

• City & Guilds Level 1 & 2, or equivalent (achieved or working towards)
• Basic Food / Hygiene Certificate
• Previous supervisor experience
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Team player