Sous Chef - Bank

NHS; Braintree; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading elderly care provider in the UK seeks a dedicated Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in delivering high-quality meals for residents. Ideal candidates will have relevant catering qualifications, at least 1 year of experience, and a compassionate approach to culinary services. This role offers flexible working patterns within a supportive environment, ensuring exceptional standards are maintained.

Qualifications

• Must hold a relevant catering qualification such as City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.
• Minimum of 1 year of catering experience required.
• Demonstrate compassion and commitment to high-quality culinary services.

Responsibilities

• Support the head chef in leading a culinary team.
• Prepare modified diets and supervise culinary staff.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

Catering experience

Compassion and commitment

Flexibility

Education

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

Job description

Job summary

This is a temporary Sous Chef role with Avery Healthcare, a leading provider of luxury elderly care homes in the UK. The role involves supporting the Head Chef in leading a culinary team that provides high-quality, nutritious meals for the residents. The successful candidate will have relevant catering qualifications, at least 1 year of catering experience, and a compassionate and committed approach to delivering exceptional culinary services.

Main duties of the job

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, which contributes to the overall well‑being of the residents and is achieved within budget. Other responsibilities will include preparing modified diets, supervising and directing culinary staff, ensuring food safety and hygiene standards, and supporting the team in understanding Avery's food safety management system.

About us

Avery Healthcare is one of the UK's largest providers of luxury elderly care homes. They are passionate about creating meaningful experiences for their residents and employees, offering exceptional care across their growing network of over 100 homes. Avery is committed to building a supportive and inspiring environment where team members feel valued and empowered every day.

Details

Date posted: 21 November 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £13.50 an hour

Contract: Bank

Working pattern: Flexible working

Reference number: 1430427190

Job locations: Avery Healthcare, Braintree, CM7 5SE

Job responsibilities

Package Description: At Avery Healthcare, we are all about supporting the people who care for our residents. We know how hard our teams work, and were 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. If this sounds like the place for you, we’d love to hear from you!

ABOUT THE ROLE

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, which contributes to the overall well‑being of the residents and is achieved within budget.

Other responsibilities will 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.
• 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.

Our ideal candidate must:

• 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’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.

Please note this role will require:

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

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

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• To be successful, the ideal candidate must hold a relevant catering qualification such as City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ, and have a minimum of 1 year of catering experience. They must also demonstrate compassion and commitment to the delivery of high‑quality culinary services to residents, and be able to adapt and be flexible to cover a range of responsibilities at short notice.

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/