Head Chef: Autonomy, Team Leadership & Balanced Hours

Barchester-Healthcare; Copthorne; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to £500 for CQC score

Refer a Friend bonus up to £500

Discounts on retail and leisure

Medical specialists access

Counselling and legal services

Tax code review service

Monthly staff lottery

Job summary

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a Head Chef to lead kitchen operations in our care homes. You will develop menus tailored to residents, manage a kitchen team, and ensure high standards of nutrition and service.

You will oversee budgeting, audits, and stock control while maintaining a warm, welcoming dining environment for residents and staff alike. Training and development opportunities are available through our academy and apprenticeships.

Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents.
• Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team
• Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition
• The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes
• Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus
• Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH
• Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required
• Menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitality
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standards
• Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch
• Assist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas
• Work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control
• Create a warm, efficient and fun environment
• Ongoing recruitment and retention
• Managing the performance of the kitchen team and front of house
• As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.
• We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.
• Our internal Learning and Development team also offer industry recognised apprenticeships and further qualifications to chefs and hospitality team members who are looking to build upon and/or develop their skills.

Skills

Leadership

People skills

Menu planning

Budgeting

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Tools

HACCP

COSHH

Job description

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a Head Chef to lead kitchen operations in our care homes. You will develop menus tailored to residents, manage a kitchen team, and ensure high standards of nutrition and service.

You will oversee budgeting, audits, and stock control while maintaining a warm, welcoming dining environment for residents and staff alike. Training and development opportunities are available through our academy and apprenticeships.