Head Chef - Abundant Grace

South Coast Nursing Homes Ltd; Seaford; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned care provider is seeking a Head Chef to lead culinary operations across multiple facilities, ensuring exceptional food quality and hygiene standards. The ideal candidate will have a minimum Level 2 Chef qualification and experience in a busy catering environment, with a passion for delivering excellent dining experiences. Competitive salary of £36,000 per annum, coupled with numerous employee benefits including paid holiday, pension scheme, and subsidised meals.

Benefits

25 Days paid Holiday + Bank Holidays or Time off in lieu

Contributory company pension scheme

Health shield employee assistance program

Full Uniform provided

Subsidised food whilst on duty

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy catering environment required.
• Nursing home experience beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead team in implementing food choices across homes.
• Manage kitchen hygiene and safety standards.
• Conduct performance reviews for kitchen team.

Skills

Passion for food

Team leadership

Hygiene management

Education

Level 2 Chef (Professional Cooking)

Food Hygiene Level 2/3

Job description

Job Description

Posted Friday 13 June 2025 at 00:00

South Coast Nursing Homes is a family-owned provider of care across East and West Sussex. Each of the 9 registered homes offers the highest standards of resident care and comfort, 24 hours – day and night.

Here at South Coast Nursing Homes, just as we provide excellent care to our residents, we cultivate an environment for personal and career growth within our own company too. We are growing and we are always on the lookout for the best talent across the care sector. If you’re passionate about care, hungry to deliver and want to be part of a flourishing company – we want to hear from you

The Head Chef must be able to implement the standards set by the Regional Operations Manager and the Company Chef, always looking to drive the food offering forwards, delivering new dishes which inspire and delight – providing a real wow factor to mealtimes. This will include the physical environment such as table settings, cleanliness and hygiene.

Further responsibilities will include sensible planning and buying of ingredients; Monthly kitchen audits; Training the team in the correct use and maintenance of equipment; Meeting with Kitchen assistants to engage them in the required standards and overall vision; Reporting major issues and solutions through to the Company Chef, as and when necessary to escalate.

Job responsibilities

• To lead a team of chefs and kitchen assistants in the implementation of consistently inspirational food choices – across all service points across two Homes.
• To maintain the standards set by the Executive Chef– food choice / quality; table settings; hygiene in the kitchens and wider dining environments; staff appearance and behaviour; training and development; safe use of equipment – to name just a few.
• To manage the hygiene, cleaning and safety of all the catering facilities – including the reporting of equipment failures. Correct maintenance of equipment is paramount to preventing issues (descaling, degreasing) and must be monitored on a daily basis.
• To adhere to the requirements of essential record keeping as dictated by the Head of Catering to ensure we comply with the law – HACCAP; Temperature checks; Kitchen audits.
• To work with the Home Manager and the Company Chef to conduct the performance annual reviews for the kitchen team you work with

The successful candidate will possess:

• Level 2 Chef (Professional Cooking) minimum requirement for this role.
• The role will require experience busy catering environment
• A Food Hygiene Level 2/ 3 qualification, or greater will be required.
• A passion for food.
• It would be beneficial to have Nursing home experience
• £36,000 per annum
• Access to your pay as you earn it
• 25 Days paid Holiday + Bank Holidays or Time off in lieu
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Health shield employee assistance program
• Full Uniform provided
• Subsidised food whilst on duty

Here at South Coast Nursing Homes, we value diversity and are committed to a culture of inclusivity, respect, and equality.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.