Regional Chef

Maria Mallaband Care Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Simply Health cashback

Discounts platform

Pension with Royal London

Flexible working

Cycle to work

Service recognition

Training & development

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Gym membership discount

Job summary

Maria Mallaband Care Group is seeking a Regional Chef to drive kitchen excellence across our portfolio of care homes. You will lead culinary operations, develop resident-focused menus, and mentor home catering teams to deliver a home-from-home dining experience.

You will travel regionally, supporting homes with expert guidance, ensuring high standards and 5-star ratings while contributing to group projects as our hospitality offerings evolve.

Qualifications

• Experience leading catering/hospitality teams, especially in a Head Chef role.
• Relevant catering qualifications or food safety credentials.
• Strong organisational and communication abilities.
• Solid knowledge of food hygiene practices and standards.
• Attention to detail and commercial awareness.
• Role requires DBS checks for safeguarding residents.
• Health & Social Care Act knowledge is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations across multiple homes in the region.
• Develop and refine dishes to provide residents with a home-from-home dining experience.
• Provide guidance and training to home catering teams.
• Strive for 5-star ratings and deliver engaging group projects within hospitality services.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Food hygiene knowledge

Attention to detail

Education

Catering qualifications

Job description

About the Role

A career at the heart of everything

Working as a Regional Chef with Maria Mallaband Care Group requires a true passion for food, alongside the drive and ambition to make every meal truly feel like a hug on a plate for those living with us. With every dining moment special in its own way, enhancing the quality of life for our residents means that this role brings a true feeling of satisfaction with creating food that touches the soul. It is about far more than just the simple act of sustenance.

Regional Cover across the Maria Mallaband portfolio of Care Homes – successful candidate but be happy with regular travel/ overnight stays

About the role

As a Regional Chef you will make an impact in our homes by ensuring delivery of all aspects of kitchen services, and here at MMCG a kitchen is not just a workspace; it is a special place where the development of new dishes - which are often special to our residents - is key. You will also contribute to the overall success of our evolving food provision, working alongside home catering teams whilst offering expertise and guidance where needed. Our residents deserve only the best, and you therefore require a keen eye for detail to produce well-balanced and appealing meals that promote a true home-from-home dining experience.

Your skills and knowledge are used daily in bustling kitchens across the estate to ensure the smooth running of services. You’ll step in to support where shift cover is needed, excellent catering experience comes into play alongside adaptability and focus to deliver an outstanding service wherever they may be.

Together with our catering teams, strive to achieve 5 star ratings, deliver training in our services and work closely with our regional teams to deliver exciting Group projects as our Hospitality offering continues to develop.

About you

As a Regional Chef at Maria Mallaband Care Group, you will demonstrate dedication and enthusiasm together with a strong attention to detail. Your passion for food will be paramount, and you will look forward to inspiring others through your leadership skills, while also showing good commercial acumen to make sound business decisions. Good management presence is a must, together with the ability to build and nurture relationships with our key stakeholders and local community. Working in busy kitchen environments, you will not be phased by pressure and will be able to communicate tasks and priorities at all levels.

A few things will be essential for this role, and we have listed these below:

• Previous experience in catering or hospitality in a Head Chef role
• Appropriate qualifications
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Sound knowledge of food hygiene
• Attention to detail and commercial acumen
• To support us in making safe recruitment choices for those in our care, the role will also be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
• An understanding of the Health & Social Care Act 2008 would be advantageous but not essential.

What we offer

Our vision is to be the best and most highly regarded care provider in the UK, together with the employer of choice for individuals like you.

We want you to join us in this extraordinary journey to inspire, empower and make a difference, and we want you to be rewarded for the excellent work that you do.

This means you will have access to some fantastic rewards and benefits, including:

• Simply Health – company funded, providing cashback for prescriptions, optical and dental costs 24/7 virtual GP access plus more for you and up to 4 children*
• Benefits platform – discounts across multiple retailers, leisure providers, hospitality etc.
• Pension Scheme with Royal London
• Flexible working patterns
• Cycle to work scheme**
• Service recognition
• Training support and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Wellbeing support
• Discounted gym membership

*Benefits require completion of a 12-week probationary period before they can be accessed.

**Benefit subject to deduction not taking colleague below National Living Wage