Head Chef - Care Home

NHS; Ferndown; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care home provider is seeking a Head Chef to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes. The role emphasizes team leadership, menu development, and creating a welcoming environment for residents. You'll enjoy a better work-life balance with weekends off while maintaining hotel-quality standards in food preparation.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500.

Access to retail and leisure discounts.

Free access to medical specialists.

Confidential access to counselling services.

Monthly staff lottery option.

Qualifications

• Personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in residents' wellbeing.
• Experience in leading, motivating, and inspiring a team.
• Experience of working with fresh seasonal food.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and inspire a kitchen team.
• Develop tailored menus based on residents' needs.
• Ensure high-quality food preparation.

Skills

Team Leadership

Menu Development

Nutrition Understanding

HACCP Knowledge

COSHH Knowledge

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

This is a Head Chef role at a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare, a leading provider of high-quality care services in the UK. The role involves leading and motivating a team, developing menus, working with fresh produce to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes, and creating a warm and efficient environment for the residents.

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 part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, with a focus on providing a better work-life balance for its employees.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care services in the UK, operating over 200 care homes and retirement villages across the country. The company is committed to delivering exceptional care and support to its residents, and places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing and development of its employees.

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

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Person Specification

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, confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus, experience working with a front of house team, good understanding of HACCP and COSHH, and knowledge around 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.