Second Chef - Bank - Care Home

NHS; Etchingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Second Chef for a care home. Responsibilities include managing the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, assisting with menu development, and using fresh seasonal ingredients to create nutritious dishes. The ideal candidate should possess a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ qualification and have experience in leading a team. This role offers a good work-life balance with flexible working days and alternate weekends.

Benefits

Work life balance with alternate weekends

Free learning and development

Holiday, retail, and leisure discounts

Opportunity to showcase talent at awards

Refer a Friend bonus scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in helping lead and inspire a team.
• Good understanding of HACCP.
• Ability to create a warm and welcoming environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Assist the Head Chef in menu development.
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality dishes.
• Help create a warm, efficient and fun environment.

Skills

Personable and warm approach

Understanding of nutrition

Experience with fresh seasonal food

Ability to lead a team

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

This is a temporary role as a Second Chef at a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK's leading healthcare providers. The successful candidate will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious and well-balanced menus for the residents, while working in a warm and welcoming environment. The role offers a good work-life balance with working days and alternate weekends.

Main duties of the job

The Second Chef will be responsible for managing the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, assisting with menu development, and working with fresh seasonal produce to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes. They will also be required to help create a warm, efficient, and fun environment, work within budget, complete regular audits, manage stock control, and assist in leading and motivating a team.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, with over 224 homes and hospitals across the country. They are consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new build homes due to open and join the Barchester family. Barchester is also the only healthcare provider in the UK to be accredited as one of the best companies to work for.

Details

Date posted: 08 January 2026

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £17.94 an hour

Contract: Bank

Working pattern: Flexible working

Reference number: 1452237349

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Burwash

TN19 7BE

Job description

Are you a qualified chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a bank Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Barchester can offer long term career growth and opportunities for ambitious chefs who pride themselves on working at the highest of standards.

Need to have

• A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
• Experience in helping lead and inspire a team
• A good understanding of nutrition
• Experience of working with fresh seasonal food
• The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home
• Good understanding of HACCP

Need to do

• Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence
• Assist the Head Chef in menu development
• Work fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards
• Help create a warm, efficient and fun environment
• Work within budgetComplete regular audits
• Manage stock control
• Assist in leading and motivating a team

Rewards package

• Work life balance - working days with alternate weekends
• Free learning and development
• A range of holiday, retail and leisure discounts
• Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards
• Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend bonus scheme

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• The successful candidate must hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience in helping lead and inspire a team, a good understanding of nutrition and working with fresh seasonal food, the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment, and a good understanding of HACCP.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: Barchester Healthcare

Address:

Barchester Healthcare

Burwash

TN19 7BE

Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/