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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a kitchen team, create delicious menus, and ensure high standards of food quality.
- Company: Join Barchester, a company committed to quality care and exceptional dining experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, bonuses, discounts, and access to medical specialists.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on residents' lives while enjoying a supportive and fun work environment.
- Qualifications: Must have relevant culinary qualifications and experience in leading a team.
- Other info: Opportunity to join the Barchester Chef Academy for skill development and growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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!
Contact Detail:
Find Apprenticeships Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Care Home
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Barchester's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to quality and high standards will help you align your passion for cooking with their ethos, making you a more appealing candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Barchester. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with fresh seasonal food and nutrition in detail. Highlighting specific examples of how you've created appetising menus or worked with modified diets will demonstrate your expertise and suitability for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've motivated and inspired your team in previous roles. Barchester is looking for someone who can lead effectively, so having concrete examples ready will set you apart.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Care Home
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience as a chef, particularly in leading teams and working with fresh seasonal food. Emphasise any qualifications like City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ that align with the job requirements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and your commitment to creating a warm environment for residents. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to develop appetising and nutritious menus.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on skills such as menu development, team motivation, and knowledge of HACCP and COSHH. If you have experience with modified diets using the IDDSI framework, be sure to include that as well.
Showcase Your Personality: Since the role requires a personable approach, let your personality shine through in your application. Share anecdotes or examples that illustrate your warm and engaging nature, especially in relation to resident interactions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Find Apprenticeships
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and how it relates to the role. Share specific examples of dishes you've created or menus you've developed that highlight your creativity and understanding of nutrition.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll need to lead and inspire your team. Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing kitchen staff, resolving conflicts, and motivating your team to achieve high standards.
✨Understand the Importance of Resident Wellbeing
Barchester values the wellbeing of its residents. Be ready to talk about how you can create a warm and welcoming environment through your cooking and interactions with residents, ensuring their dietary needs are met.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Food Safety Standards
Knowledge of HACCP and COSHH is crucial for this role. Brush up on these regulations and be prepared to discuss how you implement food safety practices in your kitchen to maintain high standards.
