Head Chef - Fernbank

South Coast Nursing Homes Ltd; Worthing; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established care provider is seeking a Head Chef for their Fernbank Residential Home in Worthing. In this role, you will lead a dedicated kitchen team, ensuring exceptional food quality and hygiene standards while fostering a positive kitchen environment. Join a family-owned organization that values personal and career growth, and contribute to delivering outstanding care to residents.

Benefits

Access to pay as you earn

Contributory pension scheme

Health shield employee assistance program

Full uniform provided

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 2 Chef qualification required.
• Experience in a busy catering environment needed.
• Food Hygiene qualification mandated.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen team and implement high food standards.
• Manage hygiene and safety of catering facilities.
• Conduct performance reviews with the kitchen team.

Skills

Team Leadership

Food Quality Standards

Hygiene Management

Planning and Buying

Education

Level 2 Chef (Professional Cooking)

Food Hygiene Level 2/3

Job description

Fernbank, Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Job Description

Posted Friday 20 June 2025 at 00:00

South Coast Nursing Homes is a family-owned provider of care across East and West Sussex. Each of the 9 registered homes offers the highest standards of resident care and comfort, 24 hours – day and night.

Here at South Coast Nursing Homes, just as we provide excellent care to our residents, we cultivate an environment for personal and career growth within our own company too. We are growing and we are always on the lookout for the best talent across the care sector. If you’re passionate about care, hungry to deliver and want to be part of a flourishing company – we want to hear from you

The Head Chef of Fernbank Residential Home, must be able to implement the standards set by the Regional Operations Manager and the Company Chef, always looking to drive the food offering forwards, delivering and preparing meals fresh from scratch, providing a real wow factor to mealtimes. This will also include the physical environment such as table settings, cleanliness and hygiene.

Further responsibilities will include sensible planning and buying of ingredients; Monthly kitchen audits; Training the team in the correct use and maintenance of equipment; Meeting with Kitchen assistants to engage them in the required standards and overall vision; Reporting major issues and solutions through to the Company Chef, as and when necessary to escalate.

Job responsibilities

• To lead a team of a Chef and Kitchen Assistants in the implementation of consistently inspirational food choices
• To maintain the standards set by the Company Chef– food choice / quality; table settings; hygiene in the kitchens and wider dining environments; staff appearance and behaviour; training and development; safe use of equipment – to name just a few.
• To manage the hygiene, cleaning and safety of all the catering facilities – including the reporting of equipment failures. Correct maintenance of equipment is paramount to preventing issues (descaling, degreasing) and must be monitored on a daily basis.
• To adhere to the requirements of essential record keeping as dictated by the Head of Catering to ensure we comply with the law – HACCAP; Temperature checks; Kitchen audits.
• To work with the Home Manager and the Company Chef to conduct the performance annual reviews for the kitchen team you work with

The successful candidate will possess:

• Level 2 Chef (Professional Cooking) minimum requirement for this role.
• The role will require experience busy catering environment
• A Food Hygiene Level 2/ 3 qualification, or greater will be required.
• A passion for food.
• It would be beneficial to have Nursing home experience
• Access to your pay as you earn it
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Health shield employee assistance program
• Full Uniform provided
• Cycle to work Scheme

Here at South Coast Nursing Homes, we value diversity and are committed to a culture of inclusivity, respect, and equality.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

Fernbank, Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom