Head Chef - Care Home

Position: Head Chef - Care Home Experience
Location: Oxfordshire

Head Chef - Care Home Experience

Salary: £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours:

40 hours per week (7am - 6pm)

Location:

Cedar Lodge, Eastfield Lane, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Reading, RG8 7EJ

Role Overview

You’re a fab chef, love to learn and want to progress, you have experience working in restaurants and or nursing homes, you have ideas for menus and understand that food is the window to the soul! You have learned alongside another chef, how to manage kitchens, including EHO requirements. However, you’re tired of long days, split shifts, working through into the night and don’t get time at home with the family or to go out with friends.

What if there was a chef role that meant you could utilise all the learning you have had before AND you could forget long hours into the night, you didn’t need to do split shifts and you had the opportunity to bring flair to menus whilst also learning about the nutritional needs of our older population? Would that be something you would love to do?

Do you take pride in your food and how it's presented? Read on…….

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a forward-thinking and growing organisation. As the Head Chef at Cedar Lodge, you will be placed at the heart of the home along with the people that live here. You will have the overall responsibility for the catering services within Cedar Lodge and you will lead by example. You will be responsible for the team rota, food ordering, stock control including waste, ensuring that all allergies are recorded and shared with your team.

You will liaise with the people that live in the home and attend resident dining experiences. The kitchen and food preparation areas need to be kept clean and tidy. You will also have a comprehensive understanding of Health and Safety issues, particularly in respect of Basic Food Hygiene, COSHH, safe moving and handling and working within the guidelines relating to cross infection.

Responsibilities and Duties

Oversee the training, supervision, appraisal, and performance management of the catering team.
Ensure the staff rota is completed in a timely manner, maintaining appropriate staffing levels for each shift.
Attend meetings and training sessions, both on-site and off-site, as required.
Ensure compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements, adhering to company policies and procedures.
Maintain a thorough understanding of Health and Safety regulations, including Basic Food Hygiene, COSHH, safe moving and handling, and cross-infection guidelines.
Perform any additional duties as assigned by the Home Manager to support the overall functioning of the home.

Skills, Qualifications and Abilities

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Experience with in a nursing home / and or restaurant is a must.
NVQ Level 3 in food preparation & cooking (or equivalent) or a willingness to complete this qualification if not already obtained.
Proficiency in IT, including Microsoft Office and internal applications; with the ability to learn new systems quickly.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also being self-motivated and capable of working independently.
Ability to work on a 7-day rota which will include weekends

The Company and Care Home

EQ Care Group is a trusted provider of exceptional elderly care, dedicated to creating warm, compassionate environments where individuals can truly thrive. Operating for three years now, we currently have five homes, with more being built to expand our portfolio. We specialise in delivering high-quality care to those who need it most, with a focus on dementia care and other complex needs.

Our approach goes beyond simply meeting physical needs—we strive to create meaningful, enriching experiences for the people living in our homes. What sets us apart is our commitment to emotional intelligence, compassionate service, and personalised care.

Cedar Lodge is our newly built 45-bed nursing and dementia specialist care home in the heart of Whitchurch-on-Thames, combines modern comfort with classic charm, offering a welcoming home for people who need care & support. With spacious en-suite bedrooms, spectacular communal areas, and…