Second Chef Bank

Care UK Plc; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care home provider in Maidstone is looking for an experienced Second Chef to take charge of the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence. This role involves creating nutritionally balanced meals, consulting with residents for their dietary choices, and working collaboratively in a friendly environment. Ideal candidates will have a Catering Diploma, relevant health and safety certifications, and enjoy a fulfilling teamwork-oriented atmosphere. Competitive wages and benefits included.

Benefits

Sociable working hours

Competitive pay rates

Career progression opportunities

Refer a friend scheme

Quality and free training

Bank holiday enhancements

Cycle to work scheme

Free DBS

Discounts across retailers

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Catering Diploma required for preparation of sensitive meals.
• Experience in high-paced kitchen environments preferred.
• Health and Safety, Food Hygiene Certifications essential.

Responsibilities

• Run the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Develop full diet sensitive meals for residents.
• Consult with residents to meet their dietary needs.

Skills

Nutritionally balanced menu planning

Catering experience

Team leadership

Education

Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC)

NVQ 2/3 in practical cookery

Health and Safety Certificate (min level 2)

Job description

Overview

Bank Contract

If you’re an aspiring chef with experience gained in a high paced kitchen environment and are looking for a rewarding role offering great training, work life balance and the chance to be part of a catering team that are award winning, join Care UK as a Second Chef and make a real difference.

What you’ll be doing

Being a Second Chef at Care UK is about taking control of running the kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence, using modern kitchen equipment and fresh local produce to develop full diet sensitive meals for residents so they can enjoy the same flavour and nutrition. It involves helping to come up with menus, consulting with residents to ensure their needs and choices are met, and preparing food in line with specific diets. Second Chefs are great at working with others, share information, raise standards through culinary development, innovation and new ideas, and maintain team discipline and morale within the kitchen. It’s about making a difference.

What you’ll need

As well as a Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC) and NVQ 2/3 in practical cookery and Health and Safety, Food Hygiene Certificates (minimum level 2) are essential. You’ll also need good knowledge of nutritionally balanced menu planning and a proven ability to cater for specific dietary needs. If you’ve worked in a care home and/or have experience of stock control or working with a budget, that’s welcome but not essential. Above all, you have a natural ability to help make the lives of others more fulfilling and want to work in an environment where the work can be hard, but also fun and rewarding.

The Benefits

• Alternate weekend working and sociable working hours
• Competitive rates of pay – we continuously review pay in your local market
• Opportunities to progress through our personalised career paths into Head Chef opportunities
• Competitive refer a friend scheme of up to £1000 depending on role
• Quality and free training to help develop and enhance your skills
• Bank holiday enhancements
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free DBS
• Thousands of online and in-store discounts across big known retailers enabling our colleagues to make big savings on everyday shopping such as holidays, supermarkets and travel
• Employee Assistance Programme – Immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to include support such as financial and family concerns

One of the UK’s leading care home providers, Care UK runs over 120 homes and day clubs across the UK that provide residential, nursing, dementia and end-of-life care for older people. A top rated employer in best quality results, our goal is to help every employee fulfil their potential by providing first-class training and support.

Fulfilling lives, fulfilling Careers.