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Were looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead the catering service within a large residential care home. This role is ideal for a chef who takes pride in delivering nutritious, well-presented meals, managing a kitchen team, and maintaining the highest standards of food safety and compliance.
You will play a key role in ensuring residents receive high-quality food that meets their individual dietary and nutritional needs, while operating within agreed budgets and company standards.
About the Role
Job Title: Head Chef
Reporting To: Home Manager
Hours: 35 hours per week
Setting: 109-bed residential care home
Pay Rate: £28,210 £30,940 Per Annum (depending on experience)
Prepare, cook, portion, and present meals in line with company standards and costings
Plan, write, and cost menus, ensuring seasonal variety and nutritional balance
Cater for special dietary and medical requirements, including texture-modified and high-calorie diets
Ensure all food is cooked safely, taste-tested, and served at the correct temperature
Control food wastage and maintain accurate records
Ensure appropriate food ordering aligned to resident numbers and budget controls
Manage deliveries, stock rotation, storage, and security of all food supplies
Process invoices weekly and ensure accurate record-keeping
Lead, motivate, and develop the kitchen team to deliver consistently high standards
Train staff on dish specifications, portion control, food safety, and company procedures
Conduct regular team meetings and one-to-one discussions
Recognise good performance and address performance issues where required
Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of kitchen team members
Work closely with the Home Manager to ensure residents dietary needs are always up to date
Ensure full compliance with HACCP, food hygiene, and health & safety regulations
Maintain all temperature records, food labelling, and due diligence documentation
Ensure the kitchen remains clean, organised, and audit-ready at all times
Adhere to cleaning schedules, uniform standards, and personal hygiene requirements
Deliver company kitchen standards and contribute positively to internal audits
Attend resident meetings to gather feedback and continuously improve the food service
Ensure supplement foods and drinks are available daily
Provide finger foods and enhanced nutrition options to support dementia care
Take part in special functions and events as required
Essential Requirements
Proven experience in a catering environment, ideally within care or healthcare
Intermediate or Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate
Strong leadership and people-management skills
Experience managing food budgets and achieving margins
Excellent understanding of HACCP and food safety compliance
Menu planning, costing, and stock control experience
Knowledge of special dietary and nutritional requirements
Strong communication skills and a genuine interest in working within a caring environment
Satisfactory police checks (including ISA where applicable)
Basic understanding of the Health & Safety at Work Act
Desirable
Experience working with nutritional information
Stable, permanent role within a well-established residential care setting
Consistent weekly hours (35 hours per week)
Competitive hourly rate (£15.50£16.00 DOE)
Opportunity to lead and develop a dedicated kitchen team
A rewarding role where your food genuinely makes a difference to residents wellbeing
This role is subject to relevant background checks
Full compliance with food safety, safeguarding, and company policies is required
