Head Chef: Care Home Kitchen Leader, Budget & Nutrition

Avery Healthcare Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Avery Healthcare Group is seeking a warm, enthusiastic Head Chef to lead the culinary team at Milton Court Care Home in Milton Keynes. You will oversee nutritionally balanced, high-quality meals for residents, ensuring service quality while managing within budget and standards.

In this role you will develop menus, supervise kitchen staff and Host team, and ensure compliance with safety, food handling, and IDDSI guidelines. A relevant catering qualification and proven leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Two years’ experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors.
• Hold a relevant catering qualification – City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.
• Demonstrate passion and commitment to the delivery of high-quality culinary standards to residents.
• Demonstrate an ability to control a budget.

Responsibilities

• Preparing modified diets that look appealing and are well-balanced and in accordance with IDDSI guidance.
• Placing food orders, subject to appropriate levels of authority, with approved suppliers, complying with procedures to maintain appropriate stock levels and control, ensuring good quality provisions are purchased within agreed budget limits.
• Supervising and directing the work of other kitchen staff and the Host team, instructing and demonstrating simple food preparation activities to unqualified staff.
• Practicing safe systems of work across the range of tasks and moving and handling loads by assessing risk and having due regard for the personal safety of residents, visitors, and staff.

Skills

Culinary team management

Budget control

Education

Catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ

Job description

Avery Healthcare Group is seeking a warm, enthusiastic Head Chef to lead the culinary team at Milton Court Care Home in Milton Keynes. You will oversee nutritionally balanced, high-quality meals for residents, ensuring service quality while managing within budget and standards.

In this role you will develop menus, supervise kitchen staff and Host team, and ensure compliance with safety, food handling, and IDDSI guidelines. A relevant catering qualification and proven leadership are essential.