Regional Bank Chef

NHS; Dalkeith; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Regional Bank Chef to support care homes in Dalkeith. This role offers a better work-life balance with working days only and flexible hours. The successful candidate will create nutritious menus and maintain high standards without the hassle of split shifts. Ideal for passionate chefs with a focus on quality and an interest in well-being, this position allows for ownership in kitchen operations and team development.

Benefits

Work life balance – working days only

Flexible hours

Free learning and development

Annual Barchester Hospitality Awards opportunities

Refer a Friend scheme, up to £500 per referral

Qualifications

• Experience working with fresh seasonal food and understanding nutrition.
• Confidence engaging with residents to create a welcoming environment.
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH standards.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hotel/restaurant standards without split shifts.
• Create nutritious, flavoursome, well-balanced menus.
• Take ownership of the kitchen and team development.

Skills

Personable and warm approach

Engaging with residents

Experience with fresh seasonal food

Understanding of nutrition

Good understanding of HACCP

Good understanding of COSHH

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

This is a Regional Bank Chef opportunity to support Barchester Healthcare's care homes in the Ashington and Bedlington areas. The role offers a better work‑life balance, with working days only and flexible hours. Barchester is one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, with a focus on quality and high standards. The successful candidate will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours, and will have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well‑balanced menus.

Responsibilities

Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work‑life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

We have a Regional Bank Chef opportunity to support our care homes in the Ashington and Bedlington areas.

Working days only, with the chance to work flexible hours and across multiple locations. You will also have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well‑balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.

We are proud to deliver person‑centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality and high standards.

Benefits and Rewards

• Work life balance – working days only
• Flexible hours and shifts
• Bank encampments of 12.07%
• Free learning and development
• Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards
• Tax Code Review Service to check you’re on the right code and paying the right level of tax
• Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide
• Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend scheme, earning up to £500 per referral
• Great opportunity to internally apply for permanent positions across all Barchester homes

Experience and Qualifications

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
• Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition
• The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes
• Confidence engaging with residents
• Experience working with a front‑of‑house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH
• Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)

About Barchester Healthcare

Barchester Healthcare is one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, with over 260 care homes and hospitals across the country. They are consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new‑build homes due to open and join the Barchester family. Barchester offers long‑term career growth and opportunities for ambitious chefs who pride themselves on working at the highest of standards.

Person Specification – Qualifications (Essential)

• The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, and have experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition. They should also have the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the care homes, and have confidence engaging with residents. A good understanding of HACCP and COSHH is also required, as well as knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (if new to care, Barchester will provide training and development on these techniques).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer Details

Barchester Healthcare

Dalkeith

EH22 2AH

Website: https://www.barchester.com/

Job Details

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £17.50 an hour

Contract: Bank

Working pattern: Flexible working

Reference number: 1452237338

Date posted: 08 January 2026