Second Chef - Care Home

Job summary

Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

Main duties of the job

As a Second Chef at Barchester, you will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus. You will have the opportunity to work in a care home environment, delivering hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. The role involves engaging with residents to tailor menus suited to their preferences, focusing on fresh, seasonal food. Additionally, you will manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, work with budgets, perform audits, and manage stock control. Barchester emphasizes a warm, welcoming environment, quality service, and maintaining the highest standards in catering within their care homes, offering chefs a chance to balance work and life while making a meaningful impact.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a prominent provider of care services in the UK, operating 224 homes and hospitals across the country. They pride themselves on sector-leading quality in healthcare and an approach that places the wellbeing and quality of life of their residents first. Barchester Healthcare has been recognized for its excellence in employee satisfaction and service quality, as illustrated by their two-star outstanding rating from Best Companies. They have also earned places among the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and within the top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK. Their commitment extends to offering person-centred hospitality with a focus on high-quality, nutritious food.

Details

• Date posted: 03 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £16 an hour
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
• Reference number: 1522796249
• Job locations: Barchester Healthcare, Kettering, NN15 7JZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

NEED TO HAVE A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent A good understanding of nutrition Experience of working with fresh seasonal food The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus Good understanding of HACCPNEED TO DO Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence Assist Head Chef in menu development Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards Create a warm, efficient and fun environment Work within budget Complete regular audits Manage stock control REWARDS PACKAGE Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK*Terms & conditions apply

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

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