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 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 0854

Main duties of the job

As a Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare in a Care Home setting, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality culinary experiences. You will work with fresh seasonal produce to create nutritious and appetising menus tailored to the needs of residents. Leading a team, you will inspire and develop kitchen staff, ensuring excellence in service and compliance with safety standards like HACCP and COSHH. The position offers a conducive work-life balance with a rotating schedule of 4/5 days a week, including alternate weekends. Chefs at Barchester enjoy the unique opportunity to create restaurant-level dishes without long hours or split shifts, contributing to person-centered hospitality. The role also includes responsibilities in budget management, auditing, and front-of-house coordination. Employees benefit from a rewarding bonus structure, retail discounts, access to counselling services, and ongoing professional development through the Barchester Chef Academy and an internal Learning and Development team. With a focus on quality, autonomy, and continuous improvement, this position is ideal for chefs passionate about culinary arts and making a difference in residents' lives.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care services in the UK, committed to delivering exceptional healthcare and hospitality across its network of homes. Known for its dedication to quality and high standards, Barchester places a strong emphasis on creating a warm and welcoming environment for both its residents and staff. The organisation offers a range of opportunities for professional growth and development, including industry-recognised apprenticeships and further qualifications for team members. Barchester also boasts a Chef Academy, providing chefs with the chance to refine their skills and share knowledge with peers, enhancing culinary standards across the group. The company values its employees, offering numerous benefits such as retail discounts, financial bonuses, access to counselling and medical services, and the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance. By prioritising the welfare of its residents and professional development of its staff, Barchester Healthcare strives to be an employer of choice in the care home sector.

Details

• Date posted: 23 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £19.47 an hour
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
• Reference number: 1529715194
• Job locations: Barchester Healthcare, Ringwood, BH24 2DW, 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

0854