Regional Head Chef

Runwood Homes Senior Living; North Benfleet; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days Paid Holiday

Paid Mileage

Pension Scheme

Blue Light Card and discounts

Employee Assistance Scheme for family

Comprehensive induction and ongoing, -

Free DBS Check and uniform

Opportunities to progress your career

Job summary

Runwood Homes is seeking an experienced Regional Head Chef to oversee kitchen operations across multiple care homes in Essex. You will travel between sites, lead on-site kitchens, and partner with Regional Support Chef & Group Hospitality Manager to ensure high-quality meals and resident satisfaction.

The role requires strong leadership, food safety expertise, and the ability to train staff while maintaining budgets and meeting care-planned nutritional standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene.
• Full UK driving licence and ability to travel across the region.
• Proven Head Chef experience, ideally in care/healthcare settings.
• Flexible, adaptable with strong organisational skills.
• Genuine interest in working in a caring environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Team player; willing to engage in vocational training.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with Hospitality management to create regular chef forums and training sessions.
• Audit kitchen operations to ensure food quality, presentation and service meet standards.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with homes' management and kitchen teams.
• Ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines and individual care plans.
• Support on-site chefs across care homes.
• Lead kitchen operations during staff shortages or absences.
• Ensure all kitchens meet food hygiene, health and safety, and HACCP standards.
• Conduct audits and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Train and develop kitchen staff.
• Promote a positive kitchen culture and high performance.
• Maintain food budgets and monitor waste/portion control.
• Gather resident and family feedback to improve meals.

Skills

Driving licence

Team leadership

Food safety & HACCP

Kitchen management

Communication skills

Flexibility & travel

Education

Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene

Job description

Regional Head Chef

To cover a cluster of homes in Essex

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Regional Head Chef to join our Hospitality team. You will work alongside our Regional Support Chef & Group Hospitality Manager to Support kitchen operations across multiple care home sites within a region/ cluster, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and resident satisfaction. This is a flexible role requiring travel between homes. You'll step in to support homes during absences & assist with new openings ensuring consistent delivery of tasty, well-balanced meals tailored to residents needs.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Liaise with the Hospitality management team to create regular chef's forums and training sessions to cover the needs of the homes you are supporting.
• When required audit the kitchen operations to ensure that the food quality, presentation, and service are provided to the appropriate standards as defined by the catering policies and mealtime standards.
• To develop and maintain good working relationships with the homes management and kitchen teams through regular personal contact.
• Ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines and individual care plans.
• Support on-site chefs across care homes.
• Step in to lead kitchen operations during staff shortages or absences.
• Ensure all kitchens meet food hygiene, health & safety, and HACCP standards.
• Conduct, when required, audits and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Train and develop kitchen staff.
• Promote a positive kitchen culture and high performance.
• Maintain food budgets, where possible.
• Monitor waste and portion control.
• Gather feedback from residents and families to improve meal satisfaction.

Benefits of working with Runwood Homes

• 28 days Paid Holiday
• Paid Mileage
• Pension Scheme
• Blue Light Card and access to various other discounts on travel, restaurants, days out and leisure
• Employee Assistance Scheme that is also available to immediate family members
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing, paid training
• Free DBS Check and uniform
• Opportunities to progress your career within the company

The successful candidate will have

• Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene (minimum)
• Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel across region
• Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally in a care or healthcare setting
• A flexible and adaptable approach with strong organisational skills
• Genuine interest in working within a caring environment
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Team player
• Willingness to participate in vocational training programmes
• Satisfactory DBS result and good references
• Experience of the provision of catering services, food preparation and presentation

This is a field based role and will require the successful candidate to travel within the region. Access to a car and a driving license is essential.

About Runwood Homes

Established in 1987, Runwood Homes is a leading provider of residential care, dementia care, and nursing care services, with a portfolio of 55 homes across England. Our commitment to delivering personalised care is at the core of our mission, as we strive to celebrate the lives of each and every one of our residents.

At Runwood Homes, we prioritise the professional development of our staff by investing in comprehensive internal, external, and e-training programs at all levels. This dedication to continuous learning and growth ensures that our team is equipped to provide the highest quality of care to our residents.

As we look towards the future, our reputation for delivering innovative care for individuals living with dementia continues to flourish. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of care excellence and setting new standards in the industry.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of adults. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.