Head Cook

Marlacourt Limited; Southampton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Oaklands Rest Home is seeking a Head Cook to lead the kitchen, plan menus, manage ordering and stock, oversee hygiene, and support supervision of kitchen staff. You will ensure meals are nutritious, well-presented and meet residents’ dietary needs.

The role is hands-on with leadership responsibilities requiring collaboration with care teams to provide dignified, enjoyable mealtimes while upholding high cleanliness and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Previous experience cooking in a professional kitchen or care setting.
• Strong understanding of food hygiene, safety and safe kitchen practice.
• Ability to prepare nutritious, appetising and varied meals.
• Ability to lead and guide kitchen colleagues.
• Confident in menu planning for resident needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the kitchen team day to day and manage rotas.
• Prepare and cook meals, ensuring quality and appropriate portioning.
• Create, review and update menus, considering resident preferences and dietary needs.
• Ensure food safety standards, audits and records are maintained.
• Order supplies, manage stock, and liaise with suppliers within budget.
• Communicate clearly with care teams and residents to support mealtime experience.
• Support safeguarding and resident wellbeing through safe kitchen practices.

Skills

Food hygiene

Leadership

Menu planning

Stock control

Staff training

Education

Food hygiene certificate

Job description

Reports To

Registered Manager / Deputy Manager

Accountable To

Registered Manager and Directors

About Oaklands Rest Home

Oaklands Rest Home is a family‑run care home based on the edge of the New Forest. We support residents to feel safe, respected, known and cared for as individuals. Food is a central part of daily life at Oaklands. It affects health, comfort, dignity, enjoyment, routine, family confidence and residents’ sense of home.

In a care home, the kitchen is not just a catering function. It is part of the person‑centred care we deliver.

Role Purpose

The purpose of the Head Cook role is to lead the kitchen function and ensure residents receive safe, nutritious, varied, enjoyable and person‑centred meals that reflect their dietary needs, preferences, routines and wellbeing.

You will cook and prepare meals while also leading kitchen colleagues, creating and reviewing menus, managing ordering and stock control, overseeing food hygiene and kitchen audits, supporting supervisions and ensuring the kitchen runs calmly, safely, efficiently and in line with Oaklands’ values.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. The right person will care deeply about food quality, resident experience, nutrition, safety, cleanliness, organisation and teamwork.

Main Responsibilities

1. Kitchen leadership and team support

You will:

• - lead and support the kitchen team day to day
• - help organise kitchen duties, rotas and cover where required
• - carry out or support kitchen team supervisions as directed
• - support induction and training for new kitchen staff
• - set clear standards for cleanliness, food preparation, communication and teamwork
• - give constructive feedback where standards need to improve
• - elevate staffing, performance, supply or safety concerns promptly
• - help the kitchen operate calmly and professionally, even during busy periods

2. Food preparation and meal quality

You will:

• - prepare and cook breakfast, lunch, supper, puddings, cakes, snacks and celebration food as required
• - ensure meals are appetising, nutritious, well‑presented and suitable for residents’ needs
• - support home cooking and baking where possible
• - minimise food waste while maintaining quality and choice
• - ensure meals are served at the correct temperature and in a timely way
• - work with care colleagues to support a calm, dignified and enjoyable mealtime experience

3. Menus, nutrition and resident preferences

You will:

• - create, review and update menus regularly, at least quarterly or as directed
• - ensure menus offer variety, nutrition, choice and seasonal balance
• - take account of residents’ preferences, allergies, cultural needs, modified diets and special dietary requirements
• - review residents’ nutritional information and dietary forms as required
• - work with care staff, residents, families and management to understand preferences and feedback
• - support celebration meals, events and special occasions with the Lifestyle / Activities team where appropriate

4. Food safety, hygiene and compliance

You will:

• - ensure food hygiene, food safety and environmental health standards are followed at all times
• - oversee required kitchen checks, including food temperatures, fridge/freezer temperatures, cleaning schedules and stock rotation
• - ensure food is stored correctly and safely
• - ensure kitchen records are accurate, current, legible and factual
• - support kitchen audits and act on findings promptly
• - ensure cleaning schedules are completed and the kitchen is left clean, tidy and uncluttered
• - maintain safe use of kitchen equipment, chemicals and cleaning products

5. Ordering, stock control and suppliers

You will:

• - order food and kitchen supplies in line with home requirements and agreed budgets
• - monitor stock levels and avoid unnecessary waste
• - rotate stock correctly so older stock is used first
• - check deliveries and report concerns about quality, shortages or incorrect items
• - maintain safe, clean and organised storage areas
• - liaise with suppliers where required
• - be conscious of cost control, efficiency and value for money without compromising resident experience

6. Communication and teamwork

You will:

• - communicate clearly with the Registered Manager, Deputy Manager, Head of Care, Senior Care Assistants, Lifestyle / Activities team and other colleagues
• - report any concerns about residents’ appetite, weight, swallowing, hydration, mood or food intake to the appropriate person
• - respond constructively to feedback from residents, relatives, colleagues and managers
• - contribute to meetings, menu reviews and improvements in food service
• - support a culture where food is seen as part of care, not just a task

7. Safeguarding and resident wellbeing

You will:

• - understand that food, hydration, nutrition and mealtimes can affect resident health and wellbeing
• - report concerns promptly, including changes in appetite, swallowing, unexplained refusal of food, weight loss concerns or distress around mealtimes
• - protect residents’ dignity, choice and preferences
• - follow safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures where required

Behavioural Attributes

In this role, you will be expected to be:

• - proud of food quality, presentation and resident experience
• - organised, calm and practical under pressure
• - reliable, punctual and consistent
• - detail-conscious with food safety, records, allergies and stock control
• - respectful of residents’ choices, preferences, dignity and cultural needs
• - confident supporting and guiding kitchen colleagues
• - collaborative with care, activities, housekeeping and management teams
• - open to feedback from residents and families
• - honest when mistakes, shortages or quality issues occur
• - proactive in improving menus, systems and standards
• - careful with budgets and waste without compromising care

What Good Looks Like in This Role

Good performance in this role means:

• - residents receive meals that are safe, nutritious, varied and enjoyable
• - menus reflect resident preferences, dietary needs and seasonal variety
• - the kitchen runs calmly, cleanly and efficiently
• - food safety records, audits and checks are completed accurately and on time
• - stock is well managed, correctly stored and not wasted unnecessarily
• - kitchen staff are clear, supported and accountable
• - residents, families and staff have confidence in the food service
• - mealtimes feel dignified, calm and person-centred
• - concerns about appetite, nutrition or dietary risks are escalated early
• - the kitchen supports Oaklands' values and contributes to residents feeling at home

This Role Is Not Suitable For Individuals Who:

• - see care home food as basic catering rather than part of resident wellbeing
• - cut corners with food hygiene, allergens, records or temperatures
• - dislike menu planning, stock control, audits or supervision responsibilities
• - are uncomfortable leading or supporting colleagues
• - become flustered or disorganised under pressure
• - ignore resident preferences, feedback or dietary needs
• - are careless with waste, ordering or budget awareness
• - resist working collaboratively with care and activities teams
• - are unreliable with timekeeping or attendance
• - avoid reporting concerns, mistakes or safety issues

Training and Development

You will be expected to:

• - participate in induction, supervision and appraisal processes
• - complete all mandatory and role‑specific training
• - engage in continuous learning and development
• - contribute to your own development and the development of the kitchen team
• - ask for support when you are unsure or need further guidance
• - apply learning in day-to-day practice so residents benefit from safe, nutritious and person-centred food service
• - support kitchen colleagues to understand and apply training in practice

General Responsibilities

You will be expected to:

• - attend meetings, training and supervision as required
• - adhere to all company policies and procedures
• - work in line with Oaklands' values and expected behaviours
• - maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
• - follow safeguarding, whistleblowing, infection control, health and safety, food safety and data protection requirements
• - use Oaklands' systems and documentation properly
• - work flexibly and collaboratively to meet the needs of residents and the home
• - carry out reasonable duties requested by the management team in line with the role

Person Specification

Essential

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• - previous experience cooking in a professional kitchen or similar setting
• - strong understanding of food hygiene, food safety and safe kitchen practice
• - ability to prepare nutritious, appetising and varied meals
• - ability to lead, support or guide kitchen colleagues
• - confidence with menu planning and adapting meals to resident needs
• - understanding of allergies, special diets and dietary preferences
• - good organisation and ability to manage a busy kitchen calmly
• - ability to complete food safety records, checks and audit documentation accurately
• - ability to manage stock, ordering and waste responsibly
• - respect for older people and residents living with dementia
• - willingness to work collaboratively with care, activities and management teams
• - reliability, punctuality and pride in high standards

Desirable

The following are helpful:

• - previous experience as a Head Cook, kitchen supervisor or chef in a care home, healthcare, school, hospitality or similar environment
• - food hygiene qualification
• - nutrition or special diets experience
• - experience supporting modified diets, allergies or texture‑adapted meals
• - experience managing kitchen audits, stock control and supplier ordering
• - experience supporting supervisions, induction or team development
• - experience working around older people or people living with dementia

Expected Outcomes

In this role, success means:

• - residents enjoy safe, nutritious and person-centred meals
• - menus are varied, reviewed and aligned to resident preferences and needs
• - kitchen records, audits and checks are completed properly
• - food hygiene and environmental health standards are maintained
• - stock and ordering are controlled effectively
• - kitchen colleagues are supported and clear about expectations
• - food waste is minimised without compromising quality
• - mealtime concerns are communicated promptly to the right people
• - the kitchen is clean, organised and inspection-ready
• - Oaklands' values are reflected in both food service and kitchen leadership

Additional Requirements

• - satisfactory DBS check where required for the role
• - suitable references
• - right to work in the UK
• - completion of Oaklands induction and mandatory training
• - food hygiene and kitchen-specific training as required
• - compliance with Oaklands policies and procedures
• - participation in supervision, training and development
• - flexibility to meet the needs of residents and the home

Safeguarding Statement

All staff at Oaklands Rest Home have a duty to protect residents from harm, abuse, neglect and poor practice. As Head Cook, you also have a responsibility to report concerns relating to nutrition, hydration, swallowing, food refusal, weight loss, distress around mealtimes, food safety or any issue that may affect a resident’s safety or wellbeing.