Second Chef - Care Home

NHS; Ashington; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking a passionate Second Chef to create delicious, nutritious meals in a warm, welcoming environment. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with fresh, seasonal ingredients while enjoying a better work-life balance with set hours and alternate weekends. You will be responsible for assisting in menu development and engaging with residents to tailor meals to their preferences, ensuring a high standard of hospitality. Join a team that values quality care and person-centered service, making a real difference in the lives of residents.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus

Refer-a-friend scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential counselling services

Tax code review service

Monthly staff lottery option

Qualifications

• Qualified Chef with a warm approach and genuine interest in residents' wellbeing.
• Experience in creating nutritious and appetising menus using fresh ingredients.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Chef in menu development and manage kitchen in their absence.
• Create a warm and efficient environment while working within budget.

Skills

Personable and warm approach

Understanding of nutrition

Experience with fresh seasonal food

Confidence engaging with residents

Understanding of HACCP

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

This position as a Second Chef in a care home offers the opportunity to work with fresh, seasonal ingredients and create nutritious, flavorsome meals for residents. The role provides a better work-life balance compared to traditional chef roles, with set hours and alternate weekends. Barchester Healthcare is a leading healthcare provider with a focus on quality care and an outstanding employer rating.

Main duties of the job

As a Second Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will assist the Head Chef in developing menus and preparing high-quality, wholesome dishes using fresh produce. You will engage with residents to tailor menus to their preferences and create a warm, welcoming environment. The role involves managing the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, working within a budget, and completing regular audits.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, operating 224 care homes and hospitals. The company focuses on person-centered care and has received outstanding ratings from regulators. Barchester is recognized as a top employer, awarded a two-star rating by Best Companies and ranked highly in the Best Health & Social Care Companies and Best Big Companies to Work For lists.

Details

• Date posted: 08 May 2025
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £13.73 an hour
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
• Reference number: 1299213989
• Job locations: Barchester Healthcare, Ashington, NE63 9AN

Job description

Job responsibilities

This position requires working alternate weekends, with a total of 30 hours across 3 days. The working hours are from 8am to 6pm.

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 Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus, working with residents to tailor menus around them. We pride ourselves on delivering person-centered hospitality across our services, seeking warm, motivated, and passionate chefs driven by quality. Barchester values an open, honest, supportive approach, with quality of care at the core. We are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals in the UK, including a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranking 11th in the Top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for, and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for in the UK.

NEED TO HAVE

• A personable and warm approach with genuine interest in residents’ wellbeing
• Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
• A good understanding of nutrition
• Experience working with fresh seasonal food
• The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home
• Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus
• Good understanding of HACCP

NEED TO DO

• Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence
• Assist Head Chef in menu development
• Work with fresh produce to deliver high-quality, wholesome dishes
• Create a warm, efficient, and fun environment
• Work within budget
• Complete regular audits
• Manage stock control

REWARDS PACKAGE

• Rewarding Excellence bonus, up to £500 for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection
• Unlimited access to refer-a-friend scheme, earning up to £500 per referral
• Retail and leisure discounts
• Free access to medical specialists for second opinions
• Confidential counselling and legal services
• Tax code review service
• Option to join monthly staff lottery (terms apply)

If you are passionate about quality and love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.