Head Chef & Hospitality Manager
Iden Manor Nursing Home | Staplehurst, Kent
£45,000–£48,000 | 40 hours per week | Permanent
Bring your ideas. Shape the experience.
If you’re a talented chef who loves food but also wants the opportunity to lead, create and influence, this could be a very different next move.
At Iden Manor, we’re investing in the next stage of our food, dining and hospitality offer, and we’re looking for someone who wants to help shape it.
You’ll inherit an established kitchen and catering team within a successful 51-bed nursing home. But you won’t be joining simply to keep the kitchen running.
We want you to make your mark.
You’ll have the freedom to develop menus, raise presentation and service standards, introduce new ideas and create dining experiences that residents look forward to.
You’ll also have the opportunity to transform how we approach celebrations and special events, from birthdays and family occasions to seasonal events, afternoon teas and restaurant-style experiences.
And importantly, this isn’t a role where management is expected to happen around a full week on the stove.
Your 40-hour contract combines hands-on cooking with protected management time, giving you the space to lead your team, develop the service and turn good ideas into action.
What you’ll have the opportunity to shape
You’ll lead food, dining and hospitality across Iden Manor, with the scope to:
- Develop seasonal menus and introduce new ideas
- Raise standards of food quality, flavour and presentation
- Influence the whole dining experience, not just what arrives on the plate
- Create memorable celebrations, events and special occasions
- Build and develop a strong kitchen and catering team
- Introduce ideas from hospitality that could work well in a nursing home
- Work directly with residents to understand what they enjoy and what they would like to see change
- Use digital tools to make the catering operation safer, smarter and more efficient
- Manage your own department, budget, suppliers and resources
- Work closely with the Registered Manager and have access to the wider leadership team
You’ll still be a chef. We want someone who enjoys cooking, gets into the kitchen and leads by example.
But you’ll also have the time, authority and support to lead the service, rather than simply cover a rota.
Who we’re looking for
You may already be working in a nursing home or senior living environment. Or you might come from hotels, restaurants, hospitality or high-quality contract catering and be looking for somewhere you can use your experience differently.
You’ll need strong hands-on cooking skills and experience leading a kitchen or catering team, together with sound knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergens, budgets, purchasing and stock control.
Experience of specialist diets, IDDSI or catering for older people would be an advantage, but care-home experience isn’t essential.
What matters is that you care about the quality of what leaves your kitchen, have an eye for presentation and hospitality, and have the confidence to bring ideas of your own.
What we offer you
- £45,000–£48,000 salary, depending on experience
- 40-hour contract
- Protected management time
- Six weeks’ annual leave
- Bupa health insurance
- Group Life Assurance
- Wellbeing Hub and counselling services
- Training and professional development
- The autonomy to develop the food and dining offer
- The opportunity to build and develop your team
- Direct access to the leadership team
- Investment behind good ideas
- The opportunity to help shape the next stage of hospitality at Iden Manor
The role requires flexibility across the week, including some weekends and public holidays.
About Iden Manor
Iden Manor is a family-owned, 51-bed nursing home in Staplehurst, Kent.
Our ambition is a good life in later years.
For us, that means looking beyond excellent care to the things that make everyday life enjoyable. Food, hospitality, celebrations and the experience of sharing a meal are an important part of that.
Interested?
Contact Umbreen David at for an initial confidential conversation.
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Head Chef & Hospitality Manager in Staplehurst employer: Iden Manor Nursing Home
Iden Manor Nursing Home is an exceptional employer that empowers its Registered General Manager to lead with autonomy and creativity, fostering a culture of innovation and person-led care. Located in Staplehurst, Kent, we offer a supportive environment with strong community ties, competitive benefits including a performance bonus and professional development opportunities, ensuring that our team members can thrive both personally and professionally. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our residents while shaping the future of our home.
