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Meridian Business Support Ltd; Woodbridge; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Meridian Business Support is seeking a dedicated Chef to join a care home team in Woodbridge. You will plan and prepare nutritious, well-balanced meals for residents while ensuring quality, safety and budget requirements are met.

You should be organized, able to lead a small kitchen team, and maintain high hygiene standards while managing stock, records and staff training. Weekend and holiday flexibility is expected.

Qualifications

• Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate required or willingness to obtain.
• First Aid certification desirable.
• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in catering or equivalent qualification.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare daily menus meeting residents' nutritional needs.
• Train and supervise kitchen staff in food preparation and service.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are maintained.
• Monitor stock levels and maintain inventory.
• Maintain a clean, organized kitchen and perform routine deep cleaning.
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions as required.

Skills

Cooking skills

Nutrition knowledge

Food safety

Team leadership

Communication

Time management

Hygiene standards

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate – Level 2

First Aid Certification

NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Food Preparation/Catering

Job description

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced Chef to join our team in a care home environment. In this role, you will be responsible for planning and preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals for residents while ensuring food quality, safety, and budget requirements are met.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about cooking, organized, and able to lead a small kitchen team while maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

- Plan and prepare daily menus that meet the nutritional needs and preferences of residents.

- Cook meals that are nutritious, appetizing, and visually appealing while working within budget.

- Monitor food stocks, order supplies, and maintain appropriate inventory levels.

- Keep accurate records of food orders and stock control.

- Ensure all food is stored, prepared, and served safely in line with food hygiene standards.

- Train and supervise kitchen staff in food preparation and service.

- Follow and maintain health, safety, and environmental standards within the kitchen.

- Maintain a clean and well-organized kitchen, including routine deep cleaning.

- Attend staff meetings and training sessions when required.

- Build positive relationships with residents and their families, responding to feedback and requests where possible.

Skills and Attributes

- Previous experience as a Chef, ideally in a care home, healthcare, or hospitality environment.

- Strong cooking skills with knowledge of a variety of cooking techniques.

- Understanding of nutrition and dietary requirements.

- Good communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to manage time effectively and work well under pressure.

- Knowledge of food safety and health & safety regulations.

- Experience training or supervising kitchen staff is an advantage.

- Flexible approach to working hours, including weekends and holidays.

Education and Qualifications

- Food Hygiene Certificate – Level 2 (or willingness to work towards intermediate food hygiene qualifications).

- First Aid Certification.

- NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Food Preparation/Catering or equivalent qualification.

Meridian Business Support is a recruitment specialist acting on behalf of our client as an Employment Agency for this vacancy.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Chef

Company: Meridian Business Support Salary: £16.50 to £16.50 an hour Hours: Full-time Location: Woodbridge, IP12 4JJ Job type: Permanent Posting date: 24 Sept 2026 Closing date: 23 Oct 2026

Summary

Job Title: Chef

Reports to: Home Manager

Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced Chef to join our team in a care home environment. In this role, you will be responsible for planning and preparing nutritious, well-balanced meals for residents while ensuring food quality, safety, and budget requirements are met.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about cooking, organized, and able to lead a small kitchen team while maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

- Plan and prepare daily menus that meet the nutritional needs and preferences of residents.

- Cook meals that are nutritious, appetizing, and visually appealing while working within budget.

- Monitor food stocks, order supplies, and maintain appropriate inventory levels.

- Keep accurate records of food orders and stock control.

- Ensure all food is stored, prepared, and served safely in line with food hygiene standards.

- Train and supervise kitchen staff in food preparation and service.

- Follow and maintain health, safety, and environmental standards within the kitchen.

- Maintain a clean and well-organized kitchen, including routine deep cleaning.

- Attend staff meetings and training sessions when required.

- Build positive relationships with residents and their families, responding to feedback and requests where possible.

Skills and Attributes

- Previous experience as a Chef, ideally in a care home, healthcare, or hospitality environment.

- Strong cooking skills with knowledge of a variety of cooking techniques.

- Understanding of nutrition and dietary requirements.

- Good communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to manage time effectively and work well under pressure.

- Knowledge of food safety and health & safety regulations.

- Experience training or supervising kitchen staff is an advantage.

- Flexible approach to working hours, including weekends and holidays.

Education and Qualifications

- Food Hygiene Certificate – Level 2 (or willingness to work towards intermediate food hygiene qualifications).

- First Aid Certification.

- NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Food Preparation/Catering or equivalent qualification.

Meridian Business Support is a recruitment specialist acting on behalf of our client as an Employment Agency for this vacancy.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.