Head Chef - Care Home

NHS; Odiham; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A care services provider is seeking a skilled Head Chef to manage kitchen operations while promoting a balanced work-life environment. Responsible for developing nutritious menus, leading a passionate team, and delivering high-quality dining experiences for residents. Ideal candidates should have relevant culinary qualifications and experience in team leadership. Competitive benefits include a rewarding bonus and various discounts. Take advantage of ongoing training opportunities to enhance your culinary skills in a nurturing environment.

Benefits

Rewarding excellence bonus up to £500

Referrals bonus up to £500

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Counselling and legal services

Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents.
• Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team.
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and inspire a kitchen team.
• Develop and upskill team members where required.
• Create nutritious and flavoursome menus.

Skills

Team leadership

Culinary expertise

Nutrition management

Communication skills

Education

City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent

Job description

The Head Chef role at Barchester Care Homes offers a unique opportunity to combine your culinary expertise with a passion for providing high-quality, person-centered care. You'll have the chance to create delicious and nutritious menus, while also leading and developing a talented kitchen team. With a focus on work-life balance, this role provides the chance to deliver exceptional hospitality standards without the long hours and split shifts often associated with the industry.

Main duties of the job

As the Head Chef at Barchester, you will be responsible for leading, motivating, and inspiring a dedicated kitchen team to deliver exceptional dining experiences for our residents. You'll have the autonomy to develop nutritious and flavoursome menus, using fresh, seasonal produce. Your role will also involve managing the performance of the kitchen and front-of-house staff, as well as overseeing budgets, audits, and stock control. You'll create a warm, efficient, and fun environment, ensuring the dining areas are set up to the highest standard.

About us

Barchester is a leading provider of high-quality care and support services in the UK. With a commitment to delivering exceptional care, the company operates a network of care homes and hospitals across the country. Barchester is known for its focus on creating a positive and enriching environment for both residents and staff, with a strong emphasis on personal development and career progression.

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'll need to hold a relevant culinary qualification, such as City & Guilds, NVQ, or SVQ. Experience in leading and motivating a team, working with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and a good understanding of HACCP and COSHH are also essential. Knowledge of modified diets using the IDDSI framework is desirable, but training can be provided.

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.