Second Chef

Care UK Plc; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care provider in the United Kingdom is looking for a Second Chef to support the Head Chef in managing kitchen operations and developing nutritious menus tailored to resident needs. Ideal candidates should have relevant culinary qualifications including a Catering Diploma and NVQ in Practical Cookery. The role comes with competitive pay, training opportunities, and various employee benefits including a referral scheme and discounts. This is a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a rewarding environment.

Benefits

Competitive rates of pay

Opportunities for advancement

Referral bonuses

Quality training

Cycle to work scheme

Free DBS

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts across big retailers

Qualifications

• Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC) required.
• NVQ 2/3 in practical cookery essential.
• Food Hygiene Certificates (minimum level 2) are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Manage kitchen operations in absence of Head Chef.
• Develop nutritionally balanced menus for residents.
• Ensure food prepared meets dietary requirements.

Skills

Knowledge of nutritionally balanced menu planning

Ability to cater for specific dietary needs

Team collaboration

Culinary innovation

Education

Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC)

NVQ 2/3 in Practical Cookery

Food Hygiene Certificates (minimum level 2)

Job description

Bank Contract

Bank Contract

Being a Second Chef at Care UK

Second Chefs at Care UK are great at working with others. They enjoy sharing information and raising standards through culinary development, innovation and new ideas. They have access to a large supply chain for all catering requirements and the autonomy to create nutritious well‑balanced menus for everyone. They’re self‑motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and happy to take responsibility for resolving issues that arise. And, they know how to maintain team discipline and morale within the kitchen. Do you have the same sort of attributes? Then we could have just the role for you.

What you’ll be doing

Being a Second Chef isn’t just about helping the Head Chef ensure food is prepared to the agreed standard and that deadlines are met. It’s about taking control of running the kitchen in their absence. It's about 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. And it's about 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. Put simply, it’s about making a difference. A real 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. And, if you’ve worked in a care home and/or have experience of stock control or working with a budget, even better (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 socilabe 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.