Head Chef - Care Home

NHS

  • Guildford, Surrey
  • £38,500 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 11 hours ago
This is a role for a passionate and qualified Head Chef to join Barchester Healthcare, a leading provider of high-quality care homes. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours, with full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well-balanced menus.Main duties of the jobAs a Head Chef at Barchester, you will lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required. You will be responsible for menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure person-centred hospitality. You will work with fresh produce to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes cooked to the highest standards, baking fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch. You will also assist the front of house team with setting up the dining areas, work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control, and create a warm, efficient and fun environment.About usBarchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care homes across the UK. They are committed to delivering exceptional care and hospitality, with a focus on providing a warm and welcoming environment for their residents. The organisation invests in its staff, offering various benefits and opportunities for professional development.DetailsDate posted04 September 2025Pay schemeOtherSalary£38,500 a yearContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Part-timeReference number1375665427Job locationsBarchester HealthcareGuildfordGU3 3FFJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesAre 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 RewardsWorking days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a weekRewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspectionUnlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referralAccess to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companiesFree access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need itConfidential and free access to counselling and legal servicesTax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of taxOption to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwideYour Experience and QualificationsA personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residentsHold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalentExperience in leading, motivating and inspiring a teamExperience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutritionThe ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homesConfidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menusExperience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standardGood understanding of HACCP and COSHHKnowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)Your Role and ResponsibilitiesLead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where requiredMenu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitalityWork with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standardsBake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratchAssist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areasWork within budget, complete regular audits and stock controlCreate a warm, efficient and fun environmentOngoing recruitment and retentionManaging the performance of the kitchen team and front of houseAs 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 apply0854 Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesAre 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 RewardsWorking days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a weekRewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspectionUnlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referralAccess to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts with big brands, supermarkets and travel companiesFree access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need itConfidential and free access to counselling and legal servicesTax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of taxOption to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwideYour Experience and QualificationsA personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residentsHold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalentExperience in leading, motivating and inspiring a teamExperience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutritionThe ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homesConfidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menusExperience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standardGood understanding of HACCP and COSHHKnowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)Your Role and ResponsibilitiesLead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where requiredMenu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitalityWork with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standardsBake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratchAssist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areasWork within budget, complete regular audits and stock controlCreate a warm, efficient and fun environmentOngoing recruitment and retentionManaging the performance of the kitchen team and front of houseAs 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 apply0854Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • You should hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent, and have experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team. You should also have experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the care home.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • You should hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent, and have experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team. You should also have experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the care home.

NHS