At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the kitchen, creating nutritious meals and a welcoming environment for residents.
- Company: Active Pathways, a supportive and inclusive mental health service.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, annual leave, health cash plan, and referral bonuses.
- Other info: Join a diverse team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives through food and care.
- Qualifications: Experience in a leadership cooking role and strong knowledge of food safety.
The predicted salary is between 14.5 - 14.5 £ per hour.
<div><h2>Head Cook / Chef</h2> <p>Location: Droylsden, Manchester</p> <p>Pay: £14.50 per hour</p> <p>Hours: Full-Time – 37.5 hours per week</p> <p>In September 2026, Active Pathways will open Willow Rise, a new residential mental health rehabilitation service.
We are looking for an experienced Head Cook / Chef to lead the kitchen from day one.</p> <h2>Role Overview</h2> <p>Lead the kitchen service, creating a recovery-focused environment, managing staff, and ensuring high-quality, nutritious meals for residents.
Collaborate with care teams and involve residents in kitchen activities where appropriate.</p> <h2>Responsibilities</h2> <ul> <li>Plan and prepare nutritious, balanced, and high-quality meals tailored to residents’ needs</li> <li>Ensure all meals meet dietary, cultural, and allergen requirements</li> <li>Lead, supervise, and support kitchen staff, including rota planning and development</li> <li>Manage stock ordering, budgets, and kitchen resources effectively</li> <li>Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, health & safety, and infection control</li> <li>Contribute to a positive, welcoming dining experience for residents and visitors</li> <li>Involve and support residents in kitchen‑based activities where appropriate</li> <li>Lead on audits, inspections, and continuous improvement within the kitchen</li> </ul> <h2>Qualifications</h2> <ul> <li>Experience as Head Cook, Chef, or in a similar leadership role</li> <li>Strong knowledge of food hygiene, safety, and kitchen compliance standards</li> <li>Experience planning meals for diverse dietary and nutritional needs</li> <li>Ability to lead, organise, and motivate a team</li> <li>Good stock control and budget management skills</li> <li>A positive, flexible, and proactive approach</li> <li>Genuine interest in supporting people in a care environment</li> </ul> <h2>Benefits</h2> <ul> <li>Annual leave of 22 days, plus bank holidays with extra days rewarded at 2 and 5 years</li> <li>Refer a Friend scheme – earn up to £500 per referral</li> <li>Health Cash Plan covering dental, optical, virtual GP, counselling, and discounted gym membership</li> <li>Workplace pension scheme</li> <li>Free Blue Light Card membership</li> <li>Free enhanced DBS checks, on‑site parking, and lunch for site‑based roles</li> </ul> <p>Active Pathways Ltd is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We respect and empower each individual and support diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within our workforce.
We welcome applications from diverse candidates and provide support during our recruitment processes to enable all applicants to perform at their best.</p></div> #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head Cook/Chef - Residential Mental Health in Manchester employer: Active Pathways
Active Pathways is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Droylsden, Manchester. As the Head Cook/Chef at our new residential mental health service, you will not only lead a dedicated kitchen team but also play a vital role in enhancing the well-being of our residents through nutritious meal preparation. With competitive pay, generous annual leave, and a range of employee benefits including a Health Cash Plan and opportunities for professional growth, we are committed to fostering a culture that values diversity and empowers our staff.
