Head Chef - Care Home

Job summary

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 enga

Main duties of the job

As a Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will be part of a company driven by quality and high standards. The role offers an excellent work-life balance with working days and alternate weekends only across 4/5 days a week. You will lead, motivate and upskill a team, develop menus tailored around residents, and deliver high-quality dishes using fresh produce. The position provides opportunities for development through Barchester Chef Academy and industry-recognized apprenticeships. Additional benefits include bonuses for 'Rewarding Excellence', a 'Refer a Friend' scheme, and access to retail and leisure discounts. The Head Chef will also manage recruitment and retention, kitchen and front-of-house performance, stock control, and budget management to create a warm and efficient environment. Chefs have full autonomy over menu creation and kitchen management without the typical demands of long hours and split shifts, contributing to a fulfilling and rewarding role within the care home sector.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a company recognized for its commitment to quality and high standards in the care home sector. They provide a supportive environment where their staff are given the opportunity to grow and reach their potential, particularly focusing on employee development through the Barchester Chef Academy and industry-recognized apprenticeships. The organisation offers a range of benefits to its employees, including bonuses for excellence, referral schemes, and discounts across various retail and leisure sectors. Moreover, Barchester supports work-life balance through well-structured working hours and days. They emphasize innovation, nutrition, and wellbeing, allowing their chefs to exercise creativity and leadership within an empowering work environment. The company prides itself on its dedication to both its employees and the residents, ensuring that both parties experience care and hospitality of the highest standard.

Details

• Date posted: 11 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £16.50 an hour
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
• Reference number: 1511864179
• Job locations: Barchester Healthcare, Kettering, NN15 6XE, United Kingdom

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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