Sous Chef

NHS; Braintree; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury elderly care provider in Braintree is seeking a Sous Chef to support the head chef and lead a culinary team. Responsibilities include preparing nutritionally balanced meals and supervising culinary staff. Candidates should possess a relevant catering qualification and have at least 1 year of experience. The work environment promotes compassion and high standards in culinary services, aiming to enrich the lives of residents.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of catering experience.
• Demonstrate compassion and commitment to high-quality culinary services.
• Ability to cover a range of responsibilities at short notice.

Responsibilities

• Support the head chef in leading a culinary team.
• Prepare modified diets following IDDSI guidance.
• Ensure all kitchen food preparation meets hygiene standards.
• Support culinary team with food safety management.

Skills

Compassion

Adaptability

Catering Techniques

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

Avery Healthcare is one of the UK's largest providers of luxury elderly care homes, committed to creating meaningful experiences for residents and team members alike. With a vision of "creating meaningful lives together," Avery offers exceptional care across its growing network of over 100 homes, building a supportive and inspiring environment where employees feel valued and empowered every day.

Job details

Date posted: 21 November 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £15 an hour

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 1430427189

Job location: Avery Healthcare, Braintree, CM7 5SE

Job responsibilities

Your focus as Sous Chef will be to support the head chef in leading a culinary team that provides a nutritionally balanced, comprehensive, and high‑quality culinary service, contributing to the overall well‑being of residents and achieved within budget.

• Preparing modified diets that look appealing and are well‑balanced and in accordance with IDDSI guidance.
• Supervising and directing the work of culinary staff, as directed by the Head Chef, providing instruction and demonstration to unqualified staff on simple food preparation activities.
• Understanding the principles of safe food handling to ensure that all food preparation undertaken in the kitchen meets the highest hygiene standards.
• Supporting all culinary team members in fully understanding the Avery Food safety management system.

About you

To be successful in your application, you must live our values of caring, support, honesty, respect, and accountability in all that you do.

• Hold a relevant catering qualification (City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ or equivalent).
• Have a minimum of 1 year of catering experience.
• Demonstrate compassion and commitment to the delivery of high‑quality culinary services to residents.
• Be able to be adaptive and flexible to cover a range of responsibilities at short notice.

About Avery

At Avery, we are not just one of the UK’s largest providers of luxury elderly care homes; we are a place where people love to work. We believe that the later years of life should be as enriching as any other, and we are passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our residents and our team alike. With our vision of "creating meaningful lives together," we proudly offer exceptional care across our growing network of over 100 homes, building a supportive and inspiring environment where employees feel valued and empowered every day.

Additional requirements

• ADBS Disclosure check – the cost of which will be met by Avery Healthcare.
• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

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: Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.

Address: Avery Healthcare, Braintree, CM7 5SE

Employer's website: https://www.averyhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

This advert may be withdrawn prior to the advertised deadline depending on the volume of applications received and business needs.