Kitchen / Chef Manager

Friends of the Elderly; Reading; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group Pension Plan

Annual leave

Wellbeing support

Learning and progression opportunities

Monthly prize draw

Retail discount schemes

Loans from salary

Health cash plans

Cycle to work

Long service awards

Refer a friend bonus £200

Uniforms provided

Free DBS checks

Job summary

Friends of the Elderly in Calcot, Reading, is recruiting a Kitchen/Chef Manager to lead the catering team, plan and cost menus, and ensure high standards of hygiene and service within an agreed budget and policies.

You will drive continuous improvement, work with residents at the heart of care, and use digital tools to order supplies and manage day-to-day operations. This is a on-site role in a charity setting.

Qualifications

• Experienced catering professional with a relevant food handling qualification.
• Proven track record in a similar role.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
• Ability to use digital tools to order supplies and manage tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the catering team within budget and standards.
• Plan and cost menus to meet budgets and maintain quality.
• Maintain hygienic and safe working practices in line with policies.
• Organise ordering of supplies using digital tools and monitor stock.

Skills

Catering management

Food safety

Budgeting

Menu costing

Team leadership

Digital ordering tools

Education

Food handling qualification

Job description

Work Pattern: Working on a rolling rota of 3 consecutive days on and 3 consecutive days off

Hours: 35 per week (average) (10 hours shifts 8am to 6pm) - Days and Weekends

Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel, we have been supporting older people for over 120 years. The charity provides care home and day care services for older people, as well as grants for older people in financial difficulty.

About Friends Place, Calcot

Friends Place, Calcotismore than just a care home -It’savibrant, welcoming community designed to provide exceptional residential, dementia, and respite care.

Run byFriends of the Elderly,wherewe pride ourselves on delivering personalised, compassionate care ina state-of-the-artfacility.

Located in the heart of Calcot, Reading, our homefeatures acinema,asalon,atea roomand avibrant bar designedto create a warm and homely environment where residents feel safe, valued, and supported.

The modern facilities are designed to create a warm and homely environment where residents feel safe, valued, and supported.

We are recruiting forKitchen/Chef Managerto join the team.

Joining us as aKitchen/Chef Manager you will be working as part of a dedicated team. On aday to daybasisyou will lead and manage the catering team with the day-to-day production & services within an agreed budget and standards for the Kitchen.You will create an atmosphere where a passion for great food and serviceisembedded within the team anddemonstratea positive,respectfuland professional approach. You will prioritise collaboration, mutualsupportand collective success in achieving team goals.

With the residents at the heart of everything you do, you will plan and cost menus in keeping within agreed budgets and ensure that standards are consistentlymaintained.

You will embrace a challenge delivering with a can-do attitude and you will be dedicated tomaintaininghygienic and safe working practices in compliance with; legislation & company Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Policies.

We are looking for a catering professional with a relevant food handling qualification and withgood experiencein a similar role, who will be committed to continuous improvement, constantly seeking opportunities for learning.

You’llneed to have the ability to use various forms of digital technology toassistwith ordering supplies along with the ability to organise and be methodical with tasks. With a good standard of number skills,you'llhave the ability to do basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

An excellent team player,you’llbe able to recognise and report situations where there might be a need for safeguarding.

Thisisn’estjust a job;it’sabout making a difference to older people’s lives every day.

Why Join Friends of the Elderly?

Heritage of Care:

Work with a trusted organisation backed by over a century of expertise.

Non-Profit Mission:

Be part of a charity that prioritises people, not profit. While we take a commercial approach to our work, we are not forprofitand we are committed to our charitable values.

State-of-the-Article Facilities:

Lead acutting-edgecare home designed for comfort and community.

Professional Development:

Access training and career development opportunities.

Make Your Mark

This is a unique opportunity to shape the culture and success of a brand-new care home, leaving a lasting impact on residents’ lives and the community.

In return for your hard work and dedication, you can look forward to a wealth ofbenefits:

• Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
• Generous annual leave.
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives, including an employeeassistanceprogramme.
• Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
• Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
• Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
• Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
• Health cash plans for you and your family.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Long service awards that increase with length of service.
• Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
• Uniforms are provided
• Free DBS checks.

Safeguarding:

Keeping everyone safe is one of the charity’scorevalues, andis central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and, if they see or suspect abuse, we expect staff to report it straight away.

Criminal record checks:

As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us, this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each other’s differences. A charity where everyone is equal butdefinitely notthe same.

Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, all working together to create an inclusive workplace, which attracts andretainsthe best people. People that care and can make a difference.

We currently do not providesponsorshipbut we welcome applications from those who have a right work in the UK.

INDMED

Who we are

For 120 years, Friends of the Elderly has been helping older people live well and find fulfilment in later life. Through our care homes, day centres and grants programme, we provide support, connection and dignity when it is needed most.

We also work with partners to extend our impact and ensure older people remain at the heart of their communities.

Learning, Development, and Career Progression

We offer various opportunities for professional growth, including training programs and career advancement paths.

Our counselling and coaching sessions are designed to support the mental and emotional health of our staff.

Retail Discount
Schemes

These schemes help staff make their salary go further with discounts at various retailers.

Friends of the Elderly
Registered charity in England and Wales (no 226064); registered company in England and Wales (no 133850).
Registered office: The Bradbury Centre, Smiles Place, Woking, Surrey, GU22 8BJ. A company limited by guarantee.
Contact us