Head Chef - Care Home

Integrated Care System; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Milton Keynes is looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen team in a care home. You'll create appetizing, nutritious menus and ensure high kitchen standards without split shifts. This role provides a work-life balance and opportunities for ongoing culinary training. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience and a strong understanding of nutrition and food safety guidelines.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Performance bonus up to £500

Retail and leisure discounts

Access to medical specialists

Counselling services

Qualifications

• Experience leading, motivating, and inspiring a culinary team.
• Ability to work with fresh seasonal food and understanding nutrition.
• Good knowledge of HACCP and COSHH regulations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hotel/restaurant standards without split shifts.
• Lead and develop a culinary team, creating nutritious menus.
• Ensure kitchens run to high standards, supported by audits and stock control.

Skills

Leadership

Team motivation

Nutritional cooking

Menu development

HACCP knowledge

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

This is a Head Chef role in a care home setting. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and motivating a team, developing nutritious and appetizing menus, and ensuring high standards in the kitchen and dining areas. The role offers a better work-life balance with no split shifts or long hours, and opportunities for ongoing training and development through the Barchester Chef Academy.

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 lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required, and work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked to the highest standards. You will also assist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas, work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control, and create a warm, efficient and fun environment.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of care home services in the UK, with a focus on quality and high standards. They are committed to supporting their staff and providing them with excellent benefits and development opportunities.

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

• You will hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent, have experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team, and a good understanding of HACCP and COSHH. Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework is also required (or can be learned through training).

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.