Head Chef: Flexible Hours, Autonomy & Academy

Barchester Healthcare; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to £500 for CQC excellence

Refer a Friend scheme up to £500

Discounts on retail and leisure

Free access to medical specialists

Counselling and legal services

Tax code review service

Monthly staff lottery

Job summary

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a Head Chef to lead a kitchen team and deliver hotel/restaurant standards within a care home environment. You will develop menus around residents' needs, work with fresh seasonal produce, and maintain high dining standards with autonomy over menus and staff development.

You will inspire and mentor your team while coordinating with front-of-house to ensure a warm, welcoming dining experience for residents. Training on IDDSI diets is provided if needed.

Qualifications

• Personable and warm approach with residents' wellbeing focus.
• City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent required.
• Experience leading and inspiring a team.
• Experience with fresh seasonal food and nutrition awareness.
• Ability to create a welcoming home environment for residents.
• Confidently engaging with residents to craft appetising menus.
• Experience coordinating front of house with high dining standards.
• Strong HACCP knowledge; COSHH familiarity.
• Knowledge of IDDSI modified diets; training available if new.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a kitchen team; upskill where needed.
• Develop menus centred on residents' needs and preferences.
• Use fresh produce to deliver high-quality dishes to high standards.
• Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch.
• Support front of house in dining area setup.
• Manage budgets, audits and stock control.
• Create a warm, efficient, and enjoyable dining environment.
• Recruitment and retention of staff; manage performance.
• Oversee kitchen and front-of-house performance.

Skills

People skills

Team leadership

Fresh seasonal food

Guest/residents engagement

Front of house coordination

HACCP knowledge

IDDSI diets knowledge

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a Head Chef to lead a kitchen team and deliver hotel/restaurant standards within a care home environment. You will develop menus around residents' needs, work with fresh seasonal produce, and maintain high dining standards with autonomy over menus and staff development.

You will inspire and mentor your team while coordinating with front-of-house to ensure a warm, welcoming dining experience for residents. Training on IDDSI diets is provided if needed.