Trainee Chef

Cinnamon Care Collection; Ferndown; Remote; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid breaks

Uniforms

Staff meals

Nest Pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Care Workers Charity

Spice of Life discount scheme

Cycle Scheme

Eye Care

Refer a Friend Scheme

Reward Vouchers

Company Recognition Awards

Job summary

Cinnamon Care Collection is seeking a Trainee Chef at Heathland House in Ferndown, Dorset. The role offers full-time hours and a starting pay of £13.59 per hour plus company benefits. You will train under the Head Chef, gaining kitchen experience and pursuing NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking.

The role requires prior kitchen experience and a compassionate, reliable team player attitude. You will contribute to high-quality catering for residents, guests and visitors while following

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen environment and ability to demonstrate key cookery skills.
• Willingness to enrol on NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking if not yet achieved.
• Opportunity to attend food preparation workshops to support training.

Responsibilities

• Follow a 4-week rota developed by the head chef.
• Assist with quarterly menu reviews in line with seasonal changes.
• Prepare, cook and present meals attractively with home-cooked focus.
• Provide breakfast service to residents on request.
• Serve meals at lunch and supper with staff rotation between communities.
• Maintain high standards of kitchen cleanliness in main and satellite kitchens.
• Order catering supplies through nominated suppliers and manage budgets.
• Learn how to prepare food.
• Ensure stock levels are adequate, rotated and secured.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Reliable

Compassionate

Teamwork

Communication

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking

Job description

Trainee Chef
£13.59 per hour plus company benefits
Full Time Hours

A Top 20 Care Home Group 2026!

Awarded ‘One of the UK’s Best Companies to Work For’

Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Heathland House is a stunning 66 bedded luxurious residential and dementia care home situated in Ferndown, Dorset.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Kitchen Assistant/Cook who wishes to progress to be a Trainee Chef under the mentorship and training of our Head Chef.

Working alongside our head chef and the kitchen team, you will provide a high quality catering and dining experience to all our residents, guests and visitors.

We are looking for someone who has enrolled on a NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cookingor will be willing to do so. You will need to have gained experience in a kitchen environment and can demonstrate some key cookery skills and knowledge.You will have the opportunity to attend food preparation workshops to support your training.

We are looking for someone who is reliable, a hard worker and can demonstrate a compassionate nature to our residents.

Our team member benefits include:

• Paid Breaks
• Uniforms
• Staff Meals
• Nest Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Care Workers Charity
• ‘Spice of Life’ – Discount Retail Scheme
• Cycle Scheme
• Eye Care
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Reward Vouchers
• Quarterly & Annual Company Recognition Awards

Main Responsibilities

1. Follow a 4-week Rota, developed by the head chef.
2. Assist with the quarterly review of menus, in line with seasonal changes.
3. Prepare, cook and present meals attractively. The majority of the menu will be home cooked with minimal use of convenience foods. This will include home baked biscuits and cakes provided daily.
4. Modified meals and snacks will be provided in line with operational procedures.
5. Provide a breakfast service to our residents in line with their requests.
6. Serve food to residents in dining areas at lunch and supper times ensuring a rotation of catering staff between communities of the care facility.
7. Ensure that a high standard of cleanliness is maintained in the main and satellite kitchens.
8. Understand how to order all catering supplies through nominated suppliers, managing budgets accordingly.
9. Learn how to prepare food.
10. Ensure that stock levels within the catering department are adequate, rotated, used effectively and secured at all times.

Person Specification

1. Ability to organise and prioritise workload and work under pressure
2. Energetic, passionate and proactive attitude
3. Awareness of COSHH and CQC regulations
4. Effective management and leadership skills
5. Good communication skills with open and collaborative working
6. The ability to work well within the team