Head Chef - Care Home

NHS; Wallingford (CT); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A rewarding Head Chef role at a care home, offering a better work-life balance with set working days. You will lead a kitchen team to deliver high-quality meals, manage budgets, and ensure food safety while enjoying various benefits.

Benefits

Performance-based bonuses

Staff referral incentives

Access to various discounts

Free access to medical specialists

Confidential counselling services

Tax Code Review Service

Monthly staff lottery

Qualifications

• Experience in leading and motivating a kitchen team.
• Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH.
• Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team to create nutritious meals.
• Manage kitchen budget and maintain food safety standards.
• Assist front-of-house team in setting up dining areas.

Skills

Leadership

Team Motivation

Nutrition

Communication

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Job description

This is a rewarding Head Chef role at a care home run by Barchester Healthcare, a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK. You will have the opportunity to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for residents while enjoying a better work-life balance with set working days and no split shifts. The role includes benefits such as performance-based bonuses, staff referral incentives, and access to various discounts and support services.

Main duties of the job

As a Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will be responsible for leading, motivating, and inspiring a kitchen team to create appetizing and nutritious meals for the residents. You will develop menus that cater to individual preferences and dietary requirements, utilising fresh, seasonal produce. Additionally, you will assist the front-of-house team in setting up the dining areas and ensure a warm and welcoming environment. The role also involves managing the kitchen's budget, completing audits, and maintaining strict food safety and hygiene standards.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, operating care homes and hospitals across the country. The company is committed to delivering high-quality care and creating a positive environment for both residents and staff.

Job responsibilities

Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

Your Benefits and Rewards

Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week

Rewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection

Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referral

Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies

Free access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need it

Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services

Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax

Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide

Your Experience and Qualifications

A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents

Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team

Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition

The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes

Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus

Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard

Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH

Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)

Your Role and Responsibilities

Lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required

Menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitality

Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standards

Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch

Assist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas

Work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control

Create a warm, efficient and fun environment

Ongoing recruitment and retention

Managing the performance of the kitchen team and front of house

As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.

We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.

Our internal Learning and Development team also offer industry recognised apprenticeships and further qualifications to chefs and hospitality team members who are looking to build upon and/or develop their skills.

Interested? If you are a motivated and dedicated chef who is ready to be part of something special, apply today!

*Terms & conditions apply

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Person Specification

Qualifications

• You should hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, and have experience in leading and motivating a team. A good understanding of HACCP, COSHH, and modified diets using the IDDSI framework is also required. A personable and warm approach, with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents, is essential.

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.