Regional Chef

Bridge Oak Care Homes; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridge Oak Care Homes is seeking a Regional Chef to support our care homes across the group, providing hands-on kitchen cover and helping to raise catering standards. The role involves planned and short-notice cover, audits, coaching, and maintaining high food safety standards.

You will work closely with Home Managers and the Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle to deliver The Bridge Oak Dining Experience – Every Meal Matters – in every kitchen, across West Yorkshire and beyond.

Qualifications

• A confident, experienced Chef with strong practical cooking skills.
• Experience of managing a kitchen and maintaining high food safety standards.
• Good knowledge of allergens, special diets and nutrition.
• A passion for quality, presentation and resident satisfaction.
• Someone who enjoys supporting, coaching and developing others.
• A flexible, organised approach and the ability to adapt to different teams and environments.
• Level 2 Food Safety qualification or equivalent.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across our homes.
• Care home or healthcare catering experience, auditing and knowledge of IDDSI would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Working closely with Home Managers, catering teams and the Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle, provide planned and short-notice kitchen cover across our homes, supporting kitchens during chef vacancies, annual leave and periods of increased demand.
• Carry out catering audits, support food safety compliance, coach colleagues and share best practice to continually improve the dining experience for our residents.
• Bring our Bridge Oak Dining Experience – Every Meal Matters – to life in daily operations.

Job description

Regional Chef – Bridge Oak Care Homes

Ideal location: West Yorkshire | Regional travel required across the group

Are you a passionate Chef who takes pride in creating great food and memorable dining experiences? Do you enjoy supporting teams, sharing your knowledge and maintaining high standards?

Bridge Oak is looking for a flexible and experienced Regional Chef to support our care homes across the group, providing hands‑on kitchen cover while helping to maintain and develop our catering standards.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Chef who enjoys variety and wants to make a wider impact beyond one kitchen.

About the Role

Working closely with Home Managers, catering teams and the Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle, you will provide planned and short-notice cover across our homes, supporting kitchens during chef vacancies, annual leave and periods of increased demand.

Alongside cooking and leading kitchen operations, you will carry out catering audits, support food safety compliance, coach colleagues and share best practice to continually improve the dining experience for our residents.

You will play an important role in bringing our philosophy to life:

The Bridge Oak Dining Experience – Every Meal Matters.

What We’re Looking For

• A confident, experienced Chef with strong practical cooking skills.
• Experience of managing a kitchen and maintaining high food safety standards.
• Good knowledge of allergens, special diets and nutrition.
• A passion for quality, presentation and resident satisfaction.
• Someone who enjoys supporting, coaching and developing others.
• A flexible, organised approach and the ability to adapt to different teams and environments.
• Level 2 Food Safety qualification or equivalent.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across our homes.

Care home or healthcare catering experience, auditing and knowledge of IDDSI would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer?

• A varied regional role where no two days are the same.
• The opportunity to influence catering standards across multiple homes.
• The chance to share your skills and support the development of catering teams.
• Ongoing professional development and future career progression opportunities.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to residents’ everyday lives.

If you’re a Chef who enjoys leading by example, supporting others and delivering food that makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Bridge Oak and help us make every meal matter.