Sous Chef - Bank

Avery Healthcare Group; Braintree; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS check funded

Job summary

Avery Healthcare Group is seeking a warm, enthusiastic Sous Chef to join Braintree Mews Care Home. You will assist the Head Chef, lead a culinary team, and help deliver a nutritionally balanced, budget-conscious service for residents.

The role requires a relevant catering qualification (City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ), at least 1 year in catering, and a compassionate, adaptable approach. DBS check funded by Avery; a supportive environment and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• 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 delivering high‑quality culinary services to residents.
• Be adaptable and flexible to cover a range of responsibilities at short notice.

Responsibilities

• Support the head chef in leading a culinary team to deliver a nutritious, balanced and high-quality service within budget.
• Prepare modified diets that look appealing and meet IDDSI guidance.
• Supervise and direct culinary staff as instructed by the Head Chef and train junior staff in basic food prep.

Skills

Catering qualification

Food safety

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2

NVQ or equivalent

Job description

At Avery Healthcare, we are all about supporting the people who care for our residents. We know how hard our teams work, and we’re here to celebrate and support you every step of the way.

When you join us, you’ll be making a positive impact on residents’ lives every day – your compassion and dedication truly make a difference. We’re committed to helping you grow in a caring, supportive environment, with opportunities to learn and develop throughout your career. And as part of our close-knit team, you’ll experience a culture that values respect, compassion, and a shared commitment to exceptional care.

We’re now looking for a warm, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual to join our award-winning team as a Sous Chef at Braintree Mews Care Home in Braintree. If this sounds like the place for you, we’d love to hear from you!

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your focus asSous Chefwill be tosupportthe head chef in leading a culinary team that provides a nutritionally balanced, comprehensive,and high-quality culinary service, which contributes to the overall well-being of the residents and is achieved withinbudget.

Other responsibilitieswill include:

• 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.
• Understandingthe 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.

Our ideal candidatemust:

• Holdarelevant catering qualification – City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ or equivalent.
• Have a minimum of 1 year of catering experience.
• Demonstratecompassionandcommitmentto 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’re not just one of the UK’s largest providers of luxury elderly care homes – we’re a place where people love to work. We believe that the later years of life should be as enriching as any other, and we’re 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. Join us and see why Avery is the preferred choice for residents and team members alike.

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