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- Tasks: Lead culinary excellence and create memorable dining experiences for residents across all Athena homes.
- Company: Join an award-winning, family-owned care home group dedicated to compassion and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, competitive salary, car allowance, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives through exceptional food and hospitality.
- Qualifications: Experience in culinary leadership and a passion for person-centred care required.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values individual growth and community spirit.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
The Head of Culinary & Hospitality provides strategic leadership for food and hospitality services across all Athena homes. Reporting to the CEO, this role ensures that every resident experiences meals and dining environments that are nourishing, dignified and genuinely enjoyable. Working closely with chefs, kitchen teams and customer care colleagues, the postholder drives exceptional culinary standards, strong regulatory compliance and meaningful hospitality experiences. The role combines professional excellence in food safety, nutrition and governance with a deep commitment to warmth, kindness and person‑centred care, ensuring that food and hospitality enhance everyday life for residents, families and visitors.
Responsibilities
- Lead and elevate culinary standards across all homes, ensuring creative, nutritious, resident‑led menus and consistent 5‑star food safety compliance.
- Inspire, develop and support Head Chefs and kitchen teams, building confident, skilled and values‑led hospitality professionals.
- Oversee specialist dietary best practice, including dementia‑friendly dining and IDDSI‑compliant meals.
- Strengthen supplier partnerships to ensure high‑quality, sustainable and cost‑effective ingredients.
- Champion warm, meaningful hospitality experiences that enhance residents' daily lives and special moments.
- Collaborate across Customer Care and community teams to embed food and dining at the heart of wellbeing and social connection.
- Lead governance, policy development and continuous quality improvement across all catering and hospitality services.
Qualifications
- A recognised qualification in catering, culinary arts, hospitality management or equivalent experience.
- Food Safety Level 3 (or willingness to achieve).
- Significant senior leadership experience within culinary or hospitality services, ideally in health, social care or another regulated environment.
- A proven track record of achieving 5‑star EHO ratings and maintaining exceptional food safety standards.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, allergens, IDDSI frameworks, texture‑modified diets and dementia‑friendly dining.
- Experience of leading improvement across multiple sites or teams.
- The ability to coach, influence and inspire teams to achieve outstanding hospitality services.
At Athena, we believe that food is far more than nourishment. It is comfort. It is dignity. It is community. It is one of the most important moments in a resident's day. We are now seeking an exceptional Head of Culinary & Hospitality to lead and inspire our food and hospitality services across all Athena homes. This is a pivotal leadership role for someone who believes that every meal should be delicious, thoughtfully prepared and served with warmth and that hospitality should feel personal, generous and genuinely caring. Working closely with our Chefs, Kitchen Teams and Customer Care colleagues, you will help shape dining experiences that residents look forward to, families trust and teams feel proud to deliver.
About Athena Care Homes: Athena Care Homes is an award‑winning, family‑owned business operating seven residential nursing homes in East Anglia where care and compassion runs through to our very core. At Athena we celebrate everyone as an individual. Whether that’s delivering authentic care, supporting our team to make moments for our residents and their loved ones, or learning and growing together.
Benefits
- Competitive salary plus car allowance.
- 25 days of holiday per year plus bank holidays.
- Free Blue Light Card & access to the Blue Light discount platform.
- Refer a friend scheme.
Head of Culinary & Hospitality in Peterborough employer: Athena Care Homes Ltd
Contact Detail:
Athena Care Homes Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Culinary & Hospitality in Peterborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the culinary and hospitality sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion! When you get that interview, make sure to share your love for food and hospitality. Talk about how you believe in creating meaningful dining experiences and how you’ve done it in the past. Let your enthusiasm shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Research, research, research! Before any interview, dive deep into Athena Care Homes. Understand their values, mission, and what makes them unique. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your chat. It’s a great way to keep yourself top of mind and show your appreciation for the opportunity.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Culinary & Hospitality in Peterborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Culinary Excellence: When writing your application, let your love for food and hospitality shine through! Share specific examples of how you've elevated culinary standards in previous roles, and don’t forget to mention any creative menus you’ve developed that made a difference.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you inspire and develop teams! In your application, talk about your experience leading kitchen teams or hospitality staff, and how you’ve coached them to achieve outstanding service. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can build confident, values-led professionals.
Demonstrate Your Commitment to Quality and Compliance: Make sure to include your knowledge of food safety regulations and best practices. Mention any relevant qualifications, like Food Safety Level 3, and share your track record of maintaining high standards. This shows us you take food safety seriously!
Connect with Our Values: At Athena, we believe in the power of food to create community and comfort. In your application, reflect on how your personal values align with ours. Share stories that illustrate your commitment to person-centred care and how you’ve created meaningful dining experiences for residents.
How to prepare for a job interview at Athena Care Homes Ltd
✨Know Your Culinary Standards
Before the interview, brush up on the latest culinary trends and standards, especially those relevant to health and social care. Be ready to discuss how you would elevate culinary experiences and ensure 5-star food safety compliance across multiple sites.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've inspired and developed kitchen teams in the past. Think about specific instances where your coaching led to improved hospitality services or enhanced team performance, as this role is all about leading with warmth and kindness.
✨Understand Dietary Needs
Familiarise yourself with dietary best practices, including IDDSI frameworks and dementia-friendly dining. Be prepared to discuss how you would implement these practices to create nourishing and enjoyable dining experiences for residents.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with other departments to enhance service delivery. Highlight your ability to embed food and dining at the heart of wellbeing and social connection.
