Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead kitchen operations across care homes, ensuring high food quality and resident satisfaction.
- Company: Runwood Homes, a leading provider of residential and nursing care services.
- Benefits: 28 days paid holiday, paid mileage, pension scheme, and discounts on various services.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives through delicious, tailored meals.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene, and a full UK driving licence.
- Other info: Flexible role with opportunities for career progression and ongoing training.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
To cover a cluster of homes in Essex & Hertfordshire.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Regional Head Chef to join our Hospitality team. You will work alongside our Regional Support Chef & Group Hospitality Manager to support kitchen operations across multiple care home sites within a region/cluster, ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and resident satisfaction. This is a flexible role requiring travel between homes. You'll step in to support homes during absences & assist with new openings ensuring consistent delivery of tasty, well-balanced meals tailored to residents’ needs.
Key duties and responsibilities:
- Liaise with the Hospitality management team to create regular chef's forums and training sessions to cover the needs of the homes you are supporting.
- When required, audit the kitchen operations to ensure that the food quality, presentation, and service are provided to the appropriate standards as defined by the catering policies and mealtime standards.
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with the homes management and kitchen teams through regular personal contact.
- Ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines and individual care plans.
- Support on-site chefs across care homes.
- Step in to lead kitchen operations during staff shortages or absences.
- Ensure all kitchens meet food hygiene, health & safety, and HACCP standards.
- Conduct audits and implement corrective actions where needed.
- Train and develop kitchen staff.
- Promote a positive kitchen culture and high performance.
- Maintain food budgets, where possible.
- Monitor waste and portion control.
- Gather feedback from residents and families to improve meal satisfaction.
Benefits of working with Runwood Homes:
- 28 days Paid Holiday
- Paid Mileage
- Pension Scheme
- Blue Light Card and access to various other discounts on travel, restaurants, days out and leisure
- Employee Assistance Scheme that is also available to immediate family members
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing, paid training
- Free DBS Check and uniform
- Opportunities to progress your career within the company
The successful candidate will have:
- Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene (minimum)
- Full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel across the region
- Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally in a care or healthcare setting
- A flexible and adaptable approach with strong organisational skills
- Genuine interest in working within a caring environment
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels
- Team player
- Willingness to participate in vocational training programmes
- Satisfactory DBS result and good references
- Experience of the provision of catering services, food preparation and presentation
This is a field-based role and will require the successful candidate to travel within the region. Access to a car and a driving license is essential.
About Runwood Homes:
Established in 1987, Runwood Homes is a leading provider of residential care, dementia care, and nursing care services, with a portfolio of over 59 homes across the UK. Our commitment to delivering personalised care is at the core of our mission, as we strive to celebrate the lives of each and every one of our residents.
At Runwood Homes, we prioritise the professional development of our staff by investing in comprehensive internal, external, and e-training programs at all levels. This dedication to continuous learning and growth ensures that our team is equipped to provide the highest quality of care to our residents.
As we look towards the future, our reputation for delivering innovative care for individuals living with dementia continues to flourish. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of care excellence and setting new standards in the industry.
Regional Head Chef - Head Office - Benfleet employer: Runwood Homes Limited
Contact Detail:
Runwood Homes Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Head Chef - Head Office - Benfleet
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hospitality industry, especially those who work in care settings. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you get the chance, offer to do a trial shift or a cooking demonstration. This is a great way to showcase your culinary talents and how well you fit into the team culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay flexible and adaptable! Since this role requires travel and stepping in during staff shortages, highlight your ability to handle different kitchen environments and your willingness to jump in wherever needed.
✨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 proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Head Chef - Head Office - Benfleet
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Regional Head Chef role. Highlight your experience in kitchen operations, food safety, and any relevant training you've done. We want to see how you can bring your unique flavour to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about working in a caring environment and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Don't forget to mention your flexibility and willingness to travel across the region.
Showcase Your Culinary Skills: If you have any special achievements or projects related to food quality and presentation, make sure to include them. We love seeing creativity in the kitchen, so share any innovative ideas you've implemented in previous roles that improved meal satisfaction.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team. Let’s get cooking together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Runwood Homes Limited
✨Know Your Culinary Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your culinary skills and knowledge, especially around food safety and hygiene standards. Be ready to discuss how you've maintained high food quality and safety in previous roles, as this will show your expertise and commitment to the role.
✨Show Your Flexibility
Since this role requires travel and adaptability, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed multiple kitchen operations or stepped in during staff shortages. Highlighting your flexibility will demonstrate that you're the right fit for a dynamic environment.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your ability to develop good working relationships with management and kitchen teams. Share specific instances where you've fostered collaboration or improved team morale, as this is crucial for maintaining a positive kitchen culture.
✨Feedback is Key
Discuss how you've gathered and acted on feedback from residents and families to enhance meal satisfaction. This shows that you value resident care and are committed to continuous improvement, which aligns perfectly with the ethos of Runwood Homes.
