Head Chef - Care Home

NHS; Cheltenham; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A care home operated by Barchester Healthcare is seeking a passionate Head Chef to lead a dedicated kitchen team. In this role, you will create high-quality meals while having the autonomy to manage the kitchen, ensuring nutritional needs are met and standards are upheld, all in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus

Refer a Friend scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Free medical specialists access

Confidential counselling services

Tax Code Review Service

Option to join monthly lottery

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar head chef role.
• Understanding of nutrition and dietary requirements.
• Knowledge of HACCP and COSHH.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the kitchen team.
• Develop and adapt menus for residents.
• Ensure high standard of food production.

Skills

Team Leadership

Menu Development

Nutrition Understanding

Food Hygiene (HACCP)

Catering Standards

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

This is a Head Chef role at a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare. The role involves leading and managing a kitchen team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for the residents. The successful candidate will have experience in a similar role, with a focus on using fresh, seasonal produce and adapting menus to cater for individual dietary requirements.

Main duties of the job

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. You will be responsible for leading, motivating and inspiring a team, developing menus, working with fresh produce, baking from scratch, assisting the front of house team, and managing the overall performance of the kitchen and dining areas.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of care homes in the UK, with a focus on delivering high-quality care and hospitality to their residents. The company is committed to investing in their staff and providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.

Details Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£18 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1347088609

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Cheltenham

GL51 4UL

Job description Job responsibilities

Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

Your Benefits and Rewards

• Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week

• Rewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection

• Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referral

• Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies

• Free access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need it

• Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services

• Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax

• Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide

Your Experience and Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents

• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

• 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)

Your Role and 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.

Interested? If you are a motivated and dedicated chef who is ready to be part of something special, apply today!

*Terms & conditions apply

8765

Job description Job responsibilities

Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

Your Benefits and Rewards

• Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week

• Rewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection

• Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referral

• Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies

• Free access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need it

• Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services

• Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax

• Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide

Your Experience and Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents

• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

• 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)

Your Role and 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.

Interested? If you are a motivated and dedicated chef who is ready to be part of something special, apply today!

*Terms & conditions apply

8765

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• The successful candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, with experience in leading and motivating a team. They will also have a good understanding of nutrition, HACCP and COSHH, as well as experience working with modified diets using the IDDSI framework.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• The successful candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, with experience in leading and motivating a team. They will also have a good understanding of nutrition, HACCP and COSHH, as well as experience working with modified diets using the IDDSI framework.

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.

Employer details Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Cheltenham

GL51 4UL

Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Cheltenham

GL51 4UL

Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)