Sous Chef

Hallmark Care Homes; Brentwood; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Real Living Wage Employer

Annual salary reviews

Pension auto-enrolment

Life Assurance

Long Service Awards & Rewards

Blue Light Card

Free uniform

Refer a Friend £1,000

Training & development opportunities

Career pathways

Study support

Team empowerment days

24/7 GP access

Job summary

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to lead the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence and maintain high culinary standards. You will craft fresh, wholesome dishes, supervise food safety, and support stock control while delivering outstanding dining for residents.

We offer a 4-on/3-off rota, paid overtime, and a supportive team environment focused on wellbeing and career development within Hallmark Luxury Care Homes.

Qualifications

• Previous kitchen experience is required (in a luxury setting would be a bonus).
• Experience in cooking with fresh ingredients is an important daily part of the role.
• Strong communication within the team and with residents is essential.
• Reliability, punctuality and time management are valued for smooth kitchen operation.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, dynamic environment and changing priorities.
• Willingness to develop skills and progress within the role.

Responsibilities

• Support leadership by standing in for Head Chef when needed.
• Collaborate with the culinary team to innovate menus.
• Create high-quality, wholesome dishes from scratch using fresh produce.
• Assist Head Chef with stock control and budget stewardship.
• Conduct regular audits to uphold food safety and quality standards.
• Engage with residents to ensure exceptional dining experiences.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Communication skills

Reliability & time management

Adaptability

People skills

Eager to learn

Job description

Craft Culinary Delights: Join Our Bighearted Team as a Sous Chef at Hallmark Luxury Care Homes and Serve up Joyful Dining Experiences!

At Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, we're dedicated to providing exceptional care that supports residents to live each day to the full. We also care (a lot) about our team members and their wellbeing. Hallmark is an excellent place to start your career and our teams wellbeing is one of the highest priorities. We want everyone to be happy and thrive in their chosen role.

About the Role

This role is for established and experienced chefs who want to further their skill set and aid in supporting the Head Chef ensuring the highest service standards are achieved. The Sous Chef is responsible for ensuring a high quality of food service and meal preparation within the home. All meals are cooked from scratch with fresh produce and the sous chef is a key role in supporting the smooth running of the kitchen. The Sous Chef is essential in supporting the wider team, when the Head Chef is on annual leave. They must also uphold all hygiene, health & safety standards and policies.

We also promote a good work/life balance! We have developed a team rota of 4 days on/ 3 days off as being very successful and fulfilling for our kitchen team. That means most evening shifts are finished by 7pm and only working every other weekend. This also includes paid overtime / time off in Lieu of any hours worked over 40 hours.

Responsibilities

• Support Leadership: Assume leadership of the kitchen in the absence of the Head Chef, fostering a warm and efficient atmosphere.
• Menu Innovation: Collaborate with the culinary team to develop innovative and enticing menus that delight our residents.
• Creative Culinary Mastery: Utilize fresh produce to craft high-quality, wholesome dishes that exceed expectations and tantalize taste buds.
• Budget Stewardship: Support the Head Chef in managing stock control to ensure operational efficiency.
• Quality Assurance: Assist in conducting regular audits to uphold excellence in culinary standards and food safety protocols.
• Engage with Residents: Ensure the catering services and dining experience is of the highest standard and quality and communicate effectively to the residents.

About You

• Kitchen Experience: Previous kitchen experience is required (in a luxury setting would be a bonus). Experience in cooking with fresh ingredients is also an important daily part of the role
• Communication Skills: Communication skills are essential for effective collaboration within our junior hospitality team, managers and residents.
• Reliability & Time Management: Completing daily tasks in a timely manner. Punctuality and reliability are highly valued traits that contribute to the smooth running of our kitchen operations.
• Adaptability: The ability to embrace change with an open mind is crucial in our dynamic work environment. A flexible approach is desirable with a can-do attitude to help when any problems arise.
• People Skills: We're seeking individuals who are approachable, confident, and diplomatic in their interactions with team and residents alike.
• Eager to Learn: We pride ourselves in offering career opportunities to all team members who want to succeed. We appreciate enthusiastic and flexible learners who are eager to expand their knowledge and skills.

Rewarding You With Benefits That Truly Matter

We want our team members to feel valued, supported and rewarded for the important work they do. When you join Hallmark, you'll have access to a range of benefits, including:

• Annual leave entitlement 28 days
• Real Living Wage Employer Enhanced bank holiday pay
• Annual salary reviews
• Pension auto-enrolment
• Life Assurance
• Long Service Awards Hallmark Care Awards Hallmark Rewards
• Blue Light Card
• Free uniform
• Refer a Friend scheme up to £1,000
• Training and development opportunities
• Career pathways
• Apprenticeship opportunities
• Study support
• Team empowerment days
• 24/7 GP access- Telephone or online appointments, any time of day
• Mental health support- Confidential helpline and counselling, available around the clock
• Optical and dental cashback- Claim back contributions on your bills, and share the benefit with your dependent children
• Physiotherapy and therapy treatments- Up to £150 towards physio, acupuncture, chiropractic and more, for you and your dependent children
• Access to expert second medical opinions- MRI, CT and PET scanning to help speed up your appointments
• Dental trauma cover- Up to £120 cashback for dental emergencies, also available to your dependent children
• Wellbeing & Alternative Therapy Treatments- Claim up to £75 each year for Acupressure, Aromatherapy, Hypnotherapy, Reflexology, Sports Massage and Indian Head Massage
• Maternity, paternity and adoption payments- Receive a lump sum cash amount at the birth or arrival of your child

Reap the Rewards

• Valued as our Greatest Asset: Be part of a values-driven company that puts people first.
• Skyrocket Your Career: Avail yourself of industry-leading training and development, propelling your career to new heights.
• Wellness Matters: Enjoy excellent benefits, including a pension, life assurance, and optional healthcare.
• Exclusive Perks: Embrace our rewards and discount scheme Hallmark Rewards.
• Balance is Key: Experience a fulfilling work-life balance, nurturing your well-being.

At Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, we believe in the power of collaboration and creativity to deliver exceptional culinary experiences.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and in the workplace and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.