Head Chef - Care Home

Barchester Healthcare; West Oxfordshire; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care home provider in West Oxfordshire seeks a Head Chef to lead a team in delivering high-quality, nutritious meals for residents. This role offers a better work-life balance with working days and alternate weekends only. Candidates should have a relevant culinary qualification and experience in creating nutritious menus. Opportunities for further development through the Barchester Chef Academy are also provided.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential and free access to counselling

Qualifications

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

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 and wholesome dishes.

Skills

Leading and motivating a team

Knowledge of nutrition

Experience with fresh seasonal food

Confidence engaging with residents

Understanding of HACCP and COSHH

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification

Job description

Overview

This Head Chef role at Barchester Healthcare's care home in Hailey, near Witney offers a great work-life balance with working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week. The successful candidate will lead a team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for the residents, with the opportunity to further develop their skills through the Barchester Chef Academy.

Main duties

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 responsible for leading, motivating and inspiring a team, developing menus tailored around residents, working with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes, and assisting the front of house team with setting up the dining areas.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care and support services in the UK. They are committed to delivering exceptional care and creating a warm, welcoming environment for their residents. The company is driven by quality and high standards, offering a range of benefits and development opportunities for their staff.

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 up to £500 for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection
• Unlimited access to Refer a Friend scheme, earning up to £500 per referral
• Retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies
• Free access to medical specialists for a second opinion if needed
• Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services
• Tax Code Review Service
• Option to join monthly staff lottery

Your Experience and Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
• City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification
• Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team
• Experience with fresh seasonal food and 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 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 (training provided if new to care)

Your Role and 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 and wholesome dishes
• 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 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 should hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience in leading and motivating a team, and a good understanding of HACCP and COSHH. Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework is also required, although training can be provided if new to care.

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.