Sous Chef

OSJCT Group; Melksham; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday including Bank Holiday

Workplace pension

Free uniform

Free DBS

Higher weekend rates

Employee Assistance Programme

Refer a Friend up to £1,000

Blue Light Card and My Rewards

Job summary

OSJCT Group is hiring a Sous Chef for Melksham Gardens, a brand-new 80-bed care home opening in 2027. You will lead the kitchen team, plan menus, manage food preparation and ensure top dining standards for residents.

You’ll work closely with the Executive Chef, supervise staff, manage costs and uphold safety and quality in a supportive, not-for-profit care environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering high-quality food in a fine-dining catering environment.
• Ability to lead and develop kitchen teams.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene practices.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day management of catering service.
• Lead, motivate and develop kitchen colleagues.
• Contribute to menu planning and food preparation.
• Ensure high standards of hygiene, food safety and cost control.
• Cover Executive Chef duties when required.
• Help establish a new kitchen in a brand-new home.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

Food knowledge

Budget awareness

Driving licence

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

A 706-2/3 qualification or equivalent

Level 3 Food Safety qualification

2 years' experience in fine-dining catering

Job description

Sous Chef

Location: Melksham, Wiltshire

Salary: £17.00 per hour

Contracted Hours: 40 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

MELKSHAM GARDENS - A BRAND-NEW CARE HOME OPENING IN 2027

Be part of something from the very beginning.

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Sous Chef to join the team at Melksham Gardens, our brand-new 80-bed care home in Melksham.

RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY

Come and meet the team and find out more:

Wednesday 21st October 10am - 3pm Melksham Town Hall - Council Chamber

Come along to find out more about Melksham Gardens, the Sous Chef role and what it's like to be part of a brand-new care home team. We'd love to meet you!

A LITTLE ABOUT MELKSHAM GARDENS

Our new purpose-built home on Longleaze Lane will provide residential, nursing and dementia care, alongside respite and day care.

The home will feature 80 en-suite bedrooms, landscaped gardens, private dining, a cinema, gym and wellbeing facilities, activities room, salon and spa, and family accommodation. Innovative technology, including circadian lighting and acoustic monitoring, will support our person-centred approach to care.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Joining a brand-new home is exciting - but it is also different.

Depending on the progress of the home, you may join us during the preparation and mobilisation period or as we welcome our first residents. Your exact start date may therefore be subject to change and could be later than initially anticipated.

We're looking for an experienced chef who is comfortable with change and excited to help shape a home from the very beginning. Your culinary skills, creativity and leadership will be invaluable as the kitchen team comes together and establishes the standards, routines and dining experience at Melksham Gardens.

This is an opportunity to help develop menus, establish kitchen processes and create a dining experience that residents can enjoy and look forward to every day.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Sous Chef, you'll play an important role in delivering a first-class dining and hospitality experience for our residents, helping to create a home where people love to live.

You'll support the day-to-day management of the catering service, working closely with the Executive Chef to ensure the team produces high-quality food and delivers excellent standards of hospitality. You'll help lead, motivate and develop colleagues, ensuring they have the skills, confidence and support they need to perform at their best.

You'll contribute to menu planning, food preparation and service, ensuring meals are enjoyable, nutritious and suited to the individual needs and preferences of our residents. You'll also help maintain the highest standards of food hygiene and safety, manage food costs effectively and ensure that kitchen processes support a consistent, high-quality service.

In the absence of the Executive Chef, you'll be required to cover their duties, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the kitchen and the delivery of the catering service.

As part of a brand-new home, you'll have the opportunity to help establish the kitchen team, develop effective ways of working and create a positive environment where colleagues take pride in delivering exceptional food and service.

Some days will bring challenges as the home and team develop, but you'll also have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to a home that residents, families and colleagues can be proud of.

ABOUT YOU

You'll have excellent food knowledge and culinary skills, with the ability to remain calm in a high-pressure environment and strong leadership skills to motivate your team to deliver first-class food and hospitality.

You'll ideally have:

• A 706-2/3 qualification or equivalent, or a professional Cookery Level 3 qualification or equivalent
• A Level 3 Food Safety qualification
• At least one to two years' experience working in a fine-dining catering environment
• Excellent knowledge of culinary ingredients and practices
• Experience using processes and planning to deliver consistent, high-quality food and hospitality standards
• Good financial awareness, particularly around food costing and budget management
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and public holidays as required

You'll be a proactive and supportive team member who takes pride in delivering excellent food and creating memorable dining experiences. You'll also be adaptable, organised and enthusiastic about the opportunity to help establish a new care home and shape its catering service from the very beginning.

AND IN RETURN

The Trust is a great place to work. We've been providing care for almost 1,000 years and we're currently the second largest not-for-profit provider in the UK. Not-for-profit means that we reinvest every penny we make into our residents, colleagues and the care homes we live and work in.

We're committed to supporting our colleagues to grow and develop, offering opportunities for career progression and training within a nurturing, engaging and rewarding environment.

Here are some of the benefits you'll enjoy as a valued member of our team:

• 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• A workplace pension
• Free uniform
• Free DBS
• Higher rates of pay at weekends
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Refer a Friend scheme, rewarding you up to £1,000 for every recommendation who successfully starts working for us
• Blue Light Card and "My Rewards" programme, offering discounts on shopping, days out, restaurants and much more

BE PART OF THE BEGINNING

If you're an experienced Sous Chef who wants to bring their passion for food, creativity and leadership to a brand-new care home, we'd love to hear from you.

Come and help us make Melksham Gardens a truly exceptional place to live, work and belong, creating a dining experience residents will love and a kitchen team you can be proud of.

We reserve the right to close this role before the closing date, with no advance notice. We do encourage you to complete an application as soon as possible if interested.