Sous Chef

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

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Pension

Free uniform

Free DBS

Higher rates of pay at weekends

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Melksham Gardens is opening a brand-new 80-bed care home in Melksham and seeks an experienced Sous Chef to join the team. You will help shape the kitchen from the ground up, lead the brigade, and develop menus to deliver a high-quality dining experience for residents.

You’ll work closely with the Executive Chef, manage day-to-day catering operations, and help establish cooking standards and cost controls in a dynamic start-up environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fine-dining catering environment is preferred.
• Experience delivering consistent food quality and hospitality standards.
• Ability to lead and develop kitchen staff and processes.
• Strong understanding of budgeting and food costs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support day-to-day catering service, aligning with Executive Chef.
• Contribute to menu planning, recipe development and service standards.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, safety and food handling practices.
• Manage food costs and kitchen processes to ensure consistency.
• In the Executive Chef’s absence, cover their duties and steward operations.

Skills

Food knowledge

Leadership

Menu planning

Cost control

Flexibility

Driving licence

Education

A -2/3 qualification or equivalent

Level 3 Food Safety

Job description

Sous Chef

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

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 October10am – 3pmMelksham 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 -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, 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, 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