Kitchen Assistant

Kingsley Healthcare; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingsley Healthcare in Bedford is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support the catering team, ensuring meals are prepared safely and in line with Health and Safety and Food Standards regulations. You will help maintain cleanliness across the kitchen and assist with washing up as required.

Working under the Home Manager/Deputy Manager/Chef, you will contribute to a hardworking team that puts residents first, develop your skills, and enjoy opportunities to learn within a forward-thinking care home

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a similar role is desirable but not essential.
• A good understanding of food hygiene and safety practices.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team.
• A hardworking and positive attitude, with a willingness to learn and take on new tasks.
• The ability to work efficiently under pressure and to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals in accordance with Health and Safety and Food Standard regulations.
• Monitor and maintain kitchen cleaning schedules to keep areas immaculately clean, including washing up as required.
• Reports to Home Manager/Deputy Manager/Chef

Skills

Food hygiene

Team player

Communication

Work under pressure

Hardworking

Job description

About the company

At Kingsley Healthcare, we are more than just a care home group - we are a proud, family-run business driven by a passion to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives every single day. Our dedicated teams transform care into a calling, delivering excellence with compassion, integrity, and respect.

As the UK’s only large care home provider to achieve B Corp certification, we continue to lead the sector in responsible, values-driven care. In 2024 and again in 2025, we were honoured to be named Health Investor’s Residential Elderly Large Care Provider of the Year, a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation.

For eight consecutive years, we’ve been recognised among the Top 20 Large UK Care Home Groups by carehome.co.uk, reflecting consistently high standards and resident satisfaction. We are also proud to be a Real Living Wage employer, ensuring that the dedication of our team members is valued and fairly rewarded.

Our commitment to people-first values has earned us outstanding workplace recognition, including a 4.7 rating on Glassdoor, a 4.5 rating on Indeed, and the No.1 ranking in the UK for wellbeing at work (Indeed’s Better Work Awards 2023).

If you're passionate about delivering exceptional care and want to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that puts both its residents and people at the heart of everything it does, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will ensure that all food preparation and catering is in accordance with Health and Safety, and Food Standard regulations. Monitor and maintain kitchen cleaning schedules ensuring that all areas of the kitchen are immaculately clean; including the washing up of crockery and utensils when required.

Reports to: Home Manager/Deputy Manager/Chef

Skills and attributes

• Previous experience in a similar role is desirable but not essential.
• A good understanding of food hygiene and safety practices.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team.
• A hardworking and positive attitude, with a willingness to learn and take on new tasks.
• The ability to work efficiently under pressure and to deadlines.

What will you gain?

You will have the satisfaction of working with and being supported by an enthusiastic and caring team that puts people at the heart of the business. We know the happiness of our staff improves the service we give our residents. You will have plenty of opportunities to learn and develop your skills, and we have the procedures and processes to help you at every step.