Head Chef - Care Home

Integrated Care System; Filton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Barchester Healthcare is seeking an experienced Head Chef to manage the kitchen in a care home setting. In this role, you will deliver high-quality meals, lead a dynamic kitchen team, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. The position offers extensive training opportunities, a supportive environment, and a chance to make a real difference in residents' lives.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500

Referral scheme offering up to £500

Wide range of retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential counselling and legal services

Tax Code Review Service

Monthly staff lottery

Qualifications

• Warm and personable approach with genuine interest in residents' wellbeing.
• Experience in fresh seasonal food preparation and good understanding of nutrition.
• Experience leading a team in a kitchen environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and inspire kitchen staff to prepare well-balanced menus.
• Manage kitchen budget and maintain hygiene standards.
• Create nutritious menus catering to dietary needs of residents.

Skills

Leadership

Creativity

Nutrition Knowledge

Team Motivation

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to join Barchester Healthcare, a leading provider of high-quality care homes across the UK. As the Head Chef, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours, while also taking full ownership of the kitchen and ongoing team development.

Main duties of the job

As the Head Chef, you will be responsible for leading, motivating, and inspiring a talented kitchen team to create nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus for the residents. You will have the autonomy to develop menus that cater to the preferences and dietary needs of the residents, while also ensuring the dining areas are set up to a high standard. The role also involves managing the kitchen budget, completing regular audits, and maintaining strict food safety and hygiene standards.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care homes across the UK. The company is driven by a commitment to delivering exceptional care and creating a warm, welcoming environment for residents. Barchester invests heavily in the training and development of its staff, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to provide the best possible care.

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

• You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, as well as demonstrate experience in leading and motivating a team. A personable and warm approach, with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents, is essential. Additionally, you should have experience working with fresh, seasonal produce and a good understanding of nutrition, HACCP, and COSHH.

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.