Second Chef - Care Home

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

Job summary

Barchester Healthcare is seeking a motivated Second Chef to assist in delivering high-quality meals at their care home in Bracknell. You'll work with fresh, seasonal produce and collaborate directly with residents to tailor menus to their preferences, while balancing the demands of high standards and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Rewarding Excellence bonus

Unlimited access to refer a friend scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential counselling and legal services

Tax code review service

Option to join staff lottery

Qualifications

• Must hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification.
• Good understanding of nutrition and experience with fresh food.
• Personable and warm approach, interest in resident wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Chef in developing nutritious and flavoursome menus.
• Manage kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Create a warm and welcoming environment.

Skills

Understanding of nutrition

Personable approach

Experience with fresh seasonal food

Confidence engaging with residents

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

The job posting is for a Second Chef role at a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK. The role involves assisting the Head Chef in creating nutritious and flavorful menus, while working closely with residents to tailor the menus to their preferences. Barchester is known for its high-quality care and has received excellent ratings from industry bodies.

Main duties of the job

As a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the opportunity to work with fresh, seasonal produce and deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks typical of the industry. You will assist the Head Chef in developing menus that are nutritious, flavorsome, and well-balanced, while also working directly with residents to cater to their preferences. Barchester is committed to providing person-centered hospitality and is looking for warm, motivated, and passionate chefs who are driven by quality.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, operating 224 homes and hospitals across the country. The company is known for its commitment to quality, having received a two-star outstanding rating from Best Companies and being ranked among the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and the top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

Details Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£15.50 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1315284533

Job locations

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Bracknell

RG42 1FW

Job description Job responsibilities

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 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. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 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 a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent A good understanding of nutrition Experience of 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 HACCPNEED 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 and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards Create a warm, efficient and fun environment Work within budget Complete regular audits Manage stock control REWARDS PACKAGE Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK*Terms & conditions apply

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

Job description Job responsibilities

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 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. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 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 a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent A good understanding of nutrition Experience of 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 HACCPNEED 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 and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards Create a warm, efficient and fun environment Work within budget Complete regular audits Manage stock control REWARDS PACKAGE Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK*Terms & conditions apply

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• The successful candidate must hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition, and have experience working with fresh, seasonal food. They should also have a personable and warm approach, a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the home.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• The successful candidate must hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition, and have experience working with fresh, seasonal food. They should also have a personable and warm approach, a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the home.

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

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Bracknell

RG42 1FW

Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Bracknell

RG42 1FW

Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)