Head Chef in Gateshead

To manage the preparation of all meals to the Residents and Staff/Relatives of the Care Home. To manage and supervise kitchen staff. To work within a delegated budget. To ensure all Health and Safety/Environmental Health compliance.

Specific Skills

• NVQ Level 2/Catering Hospitality or equivalent
• Experience of preparing/cooking food for a large volume of people and the client group
• Knowledge of and ability to provide special diets according to the resident’s needs (i.e. diabetic, gluten free, low salt, high protein reducing diet)
• Previous supervisory skills
• Knowledge of Health & Safety Legislation
• Satisfactory DBS check
• At least 2 years’ experience as 2nd Chef

Responsible For

• Prioritising workload of, and allocating tasks to relevant Staff
• Creating and maintaining cooking and cleaning regimes (daily, weekly, periodically etc) for all areas of the kitchen in line with the Company’s quality philosophy.
• Preparing menus in advance in a regular and varied way with the manager.
• Ensuring that all meals are prepared and presented to an acceptable standard.
• Ensuring that any special dietary meals are prepared.
• Preparing and presenting food to a high standard and quality.
• Ensuring that adequate food stock controls are in place.
• Ensuring that an inventory of kitchen equipment is updated and managed.
• Ensuring that the meal preparation areas comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Ensuring that proper quality control systems are adopted for all aspects of the meal preparation management.
• Ensuring that food handling, cleanliness, health, safety, risk assessments and that all procedures required within the meal preparation areas operate to the highest possible standards.
• Ensuring that the meal preparation areas operate to current and any future legal or regulatory requirement.
• Arranging/participating in Staff and Client meetings as required.
• Liaising with the Home Manager when ordering cleaning products and undertaking monthly stock checks.
• Managing and maintaining agreed budgets, in conjunction with the Home Manager/Head Office.
• Interviewing for new Staff Members with the Home Manager as and when required, in line with the Company’s Recruitment policy.
• Undertaking all statutory and relevant training as identified by H.R.
• Supervising and instructing junior and new Staff Members in all aspects of their work in the Care Centre, giving help and guidance where appropriate.
• Maintaining professional knowledge and competence.
• Adhering to the Care Home’s disposal of waste policy.
• Reporting immediately to the Home Manager, or Person in Charge, any illness of an infectious nature or accident incurred by a Client, colleague, self or another.
• Understanding and ensuring the implementation of the Care Home’s Health and Safety policy, and Emergency and Fire procedures.
• Reporting to the Home Manager, or the Handyperson, any faulty appliances, damaged furniture, equipment or any potential hazard.
• Promoting safe working practice in the Care Home.
• Promoting and ensuring the good reputation of the Care Home.
• Ensuring that all information of confidential nature gained in the course of duty is not divulged to third parties.
• Notifying the Home Manager, or the Person in Charge, as soon as possible of your inability to report for duty, and also on your return to work from all periods of absence.
• Ensuring the security of the Care Home is maintained at all times.
• Adhering to all Company policies and procedures.
• Ensuring all equipment is clean and well maintained.
• Carrying out any other tasks that may be reasonably assigned to you.

Job Nature: Full Time

Job Location: Whitefield Lodge