Head Chef - Care Home

The Head Chef role at Barchester Healthcare offers a great work-life balance with working days and alternate weekends only across 4/5 days a week. You will have the opportunity to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours, with full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well-balanced menus. Barchester is committed to supporting the development of its chefs, providing access to the Barchester Chef Academy and industry-recognised apprenticeships and qualifications.

As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required. You will be responsible for menu development, tailoring menus around residents to ensure person-centred hospitality. You will work with fresh produce to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes cooked to the highest standards, including baking fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch. You will also assist the front of house team with setting up the dining areas and work within budget, completing regular audits and stock control.

Creating a warm, efficient and fun environment is a key part of this role.

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of residential care, nursing care and specialist services in the UK. With a network of over 200 care homes and specialist care centres, they are dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care and support to their residents. Barchester is committed to investing in their staff and providing ongoing training and development opportunities.

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…