Head Chef - Care Home

Barchester Healthcare; Epping Forest; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500*

Refer a Friend scheme up to £500* per‑

Discounts on retail and leisure

Free access to medical specialists

Counselling and legal services

Tax code review service

Monthly staff lottery

Job summary

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a passionate Head Chef to lead and inspire a kitchen team, delivering nutritious, high-quality dishes in a welcoming home environment.

You will develop menus around residents’ needs, manage front of house standards, and uphold HACCP/COSHH. Training in IDDSI diets is available, with opportunities for growth through our Chef Academy.

Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach and genuine interest in residents’ wellbeing.
• 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.
• Ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes.
• Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus.
• Experience with front of house teams to ensure high dining standards.
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH.
• Knowledge of modified diets using the IDDSI framework; training provided if needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and inspire a team; develop and upskill where required.
• Menu development tailored around residents to deliver person-centred hospitality.
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality, wholesome dishes cooked to the highest standards.
• Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch.
• Assist the front of house team with dining area setup.
• Work within budget; conduct audits and stock control.
• Create a warm, efficient and enjoyable environment.
• Ongoing recruitment and retention efforts.
• Manage performance of kitchen and front of house teams.

Skills

Team leadership

Fresh seasonal food

Resident engagement

Front of house coordination

HACCP & COSHH

IDDSI framework knowledge

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

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.

*Terms & conditions apply

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