Head Cook

Care Concern Group; Taunton; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid DBS

Pension

Uniform provided

5.6 weeks annual leave

Job summary

Cedar Lodge Care Home is seeking a capable Head Cook to take full ownership of the kitchen in a specialist complex care setting. You will lead menu planning, food prep, stock control and budgets while tailoring meals to individual dietary needs with high standards of presentation and safety.

You will drive efficiency, manage costs, train and develop a kitchen team, and promote a supportive, quality-focused environment with ongoing training and clear opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards.
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Good understanding of dietary requirements, including modified or specialist diets.
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations from menu planning and food preparation to stock control and budgets.
• Ensure meals meet dietary needs and dietary restrictions with high presentation and nutrition.
• Manage ordering, costs, and waste to maximise efficiency and quality.
• Develop and support a motivated, high-performing kitchen team.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Dietary requirements knowledge

Reliability

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Cedar Lodge Care Home is located in Taunton, Somerset, and provides specialist dementia, palliative, and respite care for up to 39 residents, alongside The Limes, a dedicated mental health community supporting a further 15 individuals. The home offers a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment, with a strong focus on personalised care, dignity, and resident wellbeing.

Head Cook Contract

• £13.85 per hour
• Contracted to 40 hours per week (8am – 5pm, including alternate weekends)
• Paid DBS, pension, uniform provided
• 5.6 weeks annual leave (based on a full time contract)

No late evenings or split shifts, offering a consistent working pattern and genuine work life balance, alongside ongoing training, development and clear opportunities for career progression within a well structured and supportive environment.

Role Overview

As Head Cook you will take full ownership of the kitchen within a specialist complex care setting, supporting individuals with a range of complex physical and mental health needs. You will lead from the front to deliver high quality, nutritious and enjoyable meals that are central to daily life.

You will drive all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu planning and food preparation to stock control, compliance and team performance. Working with fresh ingredients, you will ensure meals are tailored to individual dietary needs, including modified or specialist diets, while maintaining consistently high standards of presentation, nutrition and food safety.

With a strong focus on efficiency and cost control, you will manage stock, ordering and budgets effectively, minimising waste while ensuring quality is never compromised.

Leading and developing your team, you will build a well organised, motivated and high performing kitchen. This role offers a rare opportunity to combine strong leadership, quality food and a better work life balance.

What We Are Looking For

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or equivalent, or working towards
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
• Proven experience leading or managing a kitchen
• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Good understanding of dietary requirements, including modified or specialist diets
• A proactive, reliable and quality focused approach

About Us

Cedar Lodge Care Home is part of Willinbrook Healthcare, the specialist complex care division of Care Concern Group, a family owned, market leading care provider with a strong and growing presence across the United Kingdom. We are committed to delivering high quality care and developing supportive, rewarding workplaces where our teams can thrive.

Through Willinbrook Healthcare, we deliver high quality, clinically led care for adults with complex physical and mental health needs within specialist, supportive environments.

Our five core values Trust|Respect|Passion|Kindness|Inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do, shaping the care we deliver and the environments we create. If you share these values and want to build or develop your career in a specialist care environment, we would love to hear from you.