Head Chef: Lead Nutritious Elder Care Menus & Team

Prestwickcare; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full training package

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Discount card at leisure sites

Career progression within a growing公司

Supportive and collaborative team

Job summary

Prestwick Care is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen team in Newcastle, delivering nutritious, home-cooked meals tailored to elderly residents. You will ensure food hygiene, HACCP, COSHH, and safety standards, while developing menus and managing a dedicated kitchen staff.

You will recruit and train staff, plan seasonal menus, and maintain stock and budgets. The role requires strong leadership, budgeting skills, and experience in care-home catering, with a clear focus on resident well-being.

Qualifications

• Good communication skills to liaise effectively with care staff, residents, families, and suppliers.
• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, Senior Chef, or Sous Chef (care home, healthcare, school, or contract catering desirable).
• Strong knowledge of nutrition, elderly dietary needs, allergens, and specialist diets.
• Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of HACCP, COSHH, and food safety compliance.
• Leadership and team management experience.
• Good organisational and budgeting skills.
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check
• Satisfactory Right to Work in the UK (must be maintained)

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain structured cooking, cleaning, and deep-clean schedules (daily, weekly, periodic) for all kitchen areas in line with company quality standards and CQC regulations.
• Recruit, with the Home Manager, train, supervise, and line manage all kitchen staff involved in meal preparation.
• Plan varied, seasonal, and nutritionally balanced menus in advance with the Home Manager, ensuring meals are prepared and presented to a high standard.
• Ensure all special dietary requirements are catered for (e.g., diabetic, gluten-free, allergen-free, vegetarian, texture-modified diets) and maintain effective stock control and rotation procedures.
• Maintain and regularly update kitchen equipment inventory, reporting faults or replacement needs promptly.
• Ensure meal preparation areas comply with Environmental Health, Food Standards Agency, and all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Implement and monitor quality control systems across all aspects of kitchen management and catering services.
• Ensure food handling, cleanliness, risk assessments, and health & safety procedures operate to the highest possible standards and remain compliant with current and future legislation.
• Arrange and participate in employee and resident meetings as required and undertake all statutory and mandatory training.
• Liaise with the Home Manager when ordering food supplies and cleaning products and undertake monthly stock checks and budget reviews.
• Manage and maintain agreed catering budgets in conjunction with the Home Manager and Head Office, ensuring cost control without compromising quality.
• Adhere to the Care Home’s waste disposal and sustainability policies.
• Report immediately to the Home Manager or Person in Charge any illness of an infectious nature or accident involving a resident, colleague, self, or another, in line with safeguarding and health & safety procedures.
• Report faulty appliances, damaged equipment, or potential hazards promptly to maintain a safe working environment.
• Work closely with care staff to ensure mealtimes are person-centred, dignified, and enjoyable for residents.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Budgeting

Nutrition knowledge

Food Hygiene

HACCP

COSHH

DBS check

Right to Work

Kitchen management

Job description

Prestwick Care is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen team in Newcastle, delivering nutritious, home-cooked meals tailored to elderly residents. You will ensure food hygiene, HACCP, COSHH, and safety standards, while developing menus and managing a dedicated kitchen staff.

You will recruit and train staff, plan seasonal menus, and maintain stock and budgets. The role requires strong leadership, budgeting skills, and experience in care-home catering, with a clear focus on resident well-being.