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Kitchen/Chef Manager
Friends Place, Calcot, Reading
Salary: £40,040 per annum
Contract type Permanent Full Time (35 hours per week)
Working Pattern 8am 6pm 3 days on and 3 days off
Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel. We have been supporting older people for 120 years, offering care home and day care services, as well as a grants programme for those in financial difficulty.
We are searching for a Kitchen/Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team in our brand-new care home, Friends Place, in Calcot, Reading. Our state-of-the-art care home will feature:
66 luxury bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms.
- A cinema for residents to enjoy movie nights and entertainment.
- A stylish salon offering professional pampering.
- A peaceful library for reading and reflection.
- A vibrant bar for socialising and relaxation.
About the Role
Key Tasks
Team Leadership and Staff Management:
- Lead, supervise, and motivate colleagues to ensure effective team performance.
- Train & develop team members to standards expected
- Manage staff schedules & resources to ensure adequate coverage and efficient workflow.
- Conduct performance cycles and provide constructive feedback for continuous improvement
- Oversee the recruitment and absence management of the team.
Menu & Food Quality
- Plan and cost menus in keeping within agreed budgets
- Ensure that company expected standards are consistently maintained.
- Maximise the visual impact of food at the point of service
- Develop and implement innovative ideas and creative concepts to enhance the menu offerings.
- Incorporate sustainable practices into menu development and kitchen operations, focusing on locally sourced ingredients & waste reduction.
Compliance
- Maintain a clean, hygienic and safe working environment, in compliance with food safety and health & safety, legislation, policy and standards.
- Ensure compliance with allergen management practices by identifying and properly handling allergenic ingredients, maintaining accurate records, and preventing cross-contamination.
- Ensure that premises and kitchen equipment are maintained in accordance with currentlegislation & company standards
- Ensure all site due diligence, training & allergen documentation is completed and available for inspection.
Production & Service Standards
- To lead the catering team with the day-to-day production & service
- To provide excellent food and customer service responding quickly and proactively to residents needs
- Be approachable & welcome feedback as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
Organisation
- Attendandcontributeto weekly/monthlyteammeetings,discussingany mattersthathavearisen.
- Undertakeanyrelevanttrainingthatmanagementseefittoenableyoutoprogressintheroleatthe required speed.
About You
Create an atmosphere where a passion for great food and service is at the heart of everything we do.
Demonstrate a positive, respectful, and professional approach
Embrace challenge delivering with a can-do attitude
Dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and safety
Committed to continuous improvement, consistently seeking opportunities for learning
Prioritise collaboration, mutual support, and collective success in achieving team goals
This isnt just a job; its about making a difference to older peoples lives every day.
Why Join Friends of the Elderly?
- Heritage of Care: Work with a trusted organisation backed by over a century of expertise.
- Charity Ethos: Be part of a charity that prioritises people, not profit. While we take a commercial approach to our work, we are not for profit and are committed to our charitable values.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Lead a cutting-edge care home designed for comfort and community.
- Professional Development: Access training and career development opportunities.
- Make Your Mark: This is a unique opportunity to shape the culture and success of a brand-new care home, having a lasting impact on residents lives and their community.
In return for your hard work and dedication, you can look forward to a wealth of benefits:
- Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
- Wellbeing support through various initiatives, including an employee assistance programme.
- Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
- Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
- Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
- Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
- Health cash plans for you and your family.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Long service awards that increase with length of service.
- Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
Uniforms are provided
Free DBS checks.
Safeguarding
Keeping everyone safe is one of the charitys core values and is central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and are expected to report any suspected abuse immediately.
Criminal Record Checks
As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us; this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each others differences. Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, all working together to create an inclusive workplace that attracts and retains the best people. People that care and can make a difference.
We currently do not provide sponsorship, but we welcome applications from those who have the right to work in the UK.
