Head Chef - Care Home

Barchester Healthcare; Woking; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking a passionate Head Chef to join their team at a new care home. This exciting role offers the opportunity to create and deliver exceptional dining experiences while working with fresh, seasonal ingredients. You will lead a talented kitchen team, develop personalized menus, and ensure the highest standards of hospitality. Enjoy a supportive environment with a focus on professional development through the Barchester Chef Academy, where you can learn new techniques and share your culinary expertise. If you're ready to make a difference in residents' lives through food, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus up to £500

Refer a Friend scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential counselling services

Tax Code Review Service

Monthly staff lottery

Qualifications

• Experience in leading and motivating a kitchen team.
• Knowledge of nutrition and working with fresh seasonal food.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to deliver high-quality dishes.
• Develop menus tailored to residents' preferences and dietary needs.
• Manage kitchen performance and ensure a welcoming dining environment.

Skills

Team Leadership

Menu Development

Nutritional Knowledge

HACCP Understanding

Customer Engagement

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Lotus Manor is one of Barchester's newest care homes due to open. Brand new kitchen, modern equipment offering the highest quality of dining to residents. 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.

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

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