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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team to create delicious, nutritious meals for residents.
- Company: Join Barchester, a caring and innovative care home provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, discounts, and access to wellness services.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while honing your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams and a passion for fresh, seasonal food.
- Other info: Access to the Barchester Chef Academy for ongoing learning and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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!
*Terms & conditions apply
Head Chef - Care Home in Reigate employer: Barchester Healthcare
Contact Detail:
Barchester Healthcare Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Care Home in Reigate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, industry contacts, or even friends who might know someone in the care home sector. A personal connection can often get your foot in the door faster than any application.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, prepare a sample menu or dish that highlights your creativity and understanding of nutrition. Bring it along to interviews or networking events to make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to chat about your experience! Brush up on your past roles and be prepared to discuss how you've led teams and created welcoming environments. We want to hear your stories!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Care Home in Reigate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your love for cooking and caring for residents shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in leading teams and working with fresh seasonal food. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others, so share examples of how you've done this in the past!
Be Person-Centred: Remember, it’s all about the residents! In your application, mention how you’ve developed menus that cater to individual needs and preferences. Show us that you understand the importance of nutrition and personalisation.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Barchester Healthcare
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with seasonal ingredients and how to create nutritious menus. Be ready to discuss your ideas for dishes that cater to residents' dietary needs, showcasing your understanding of nutrition and modified diets.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led and motivated a kitchen team in the past. Think about specific situations where you inspired your team or improved their skills, as this will demonstrate your ability to create a warm and efficient environment.
✨Engage with the Care Aspect
Since this role is in a care home, be prepared to talk about how you can create a welcoming atmosphere for residents. Share your thoughts on how food can enhance their wellbeing and how you would engage with them to tailor menus to their preferences.
✨Understand HACCP and COSHH
Brush up on your knowledge of health and safety regulations, particularly HACCP and COSHH. Being able to discuss these frameworks confidently will show that you take food safety seriously and are committed to maintaining high standards in the kitchen.
