Second Chef - Care Home

NHS

  • Rayleigh, Essex
  • £15.89 per hour
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 14 days ago
This role offers the opportunity to work as a Second Chef in a care home setting, where you can use your culinary skills to create nutritious and delicious meals for the residents. You will work alongside the Head Chef to develop menus, manage the kitchen, and ensure high-quality standards are maintained. The position provides a work-life balance with regular hours, without the demands of a typical restaurant environment.Main duties of the jobAs a Second Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus for the residents. You will have the chance to work with fresh, seasonal produce to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. Your responsibilities will include managing the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, working within budget, and completing regular audits. You will also be expected to engage with residents to tailor menus to their preferences and create a warm, efficient, and enjoyable environment.About usBarchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, operating 224 homes and hospitals across the country. The company is committed to delivering high-quality care and has been recognized for its excellence, receiving a two-star outstanding rating from Best Companies and ranking highly in the Top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies and Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.DetailsDate posted21 August 2025Pay schemeOtherSalary£15.89 an hourContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Part-timeReference number1366147086Job locationsBarchester HealthcareRayleighSS6 9XHJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesAre 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 applyIf 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.Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesAre 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 applyIf 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.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition and HACCP, and experience working with fresh, seasonal food.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition and HACCP, and experience working with fresh, seasonal food.

NHS