Description
We’re looking for an inspiring Head Chef to lead our catering team at The Horder Centre - a respected healthcare environment where food quality directly impacts patient wellbeing, staff satisfaction, and visitor experience.
This is more than a leadership role in the kitchen, it’s an opportunity to shape nutritious, high-quality dining that makes a genuine difference every day.
What You’ll Be Doing
As Head Chef, you’ll take full ownership of the kitchen operation, delivering exceptional food and leading a motivated team. Your responsibilities will include:
1. Leading and inspiring the catering team to deliver outstanding food and service
2. Overseeing production of patient, staff, and hospitality meals
3. Supporting with the designing of menus, including specialist diets and seasonal offerings
4. Supporting with the managing of budgets, stock control, and cost efficiency
5. Ensuring strict compliance with food safety, HACCP, and health & safety regulations
6. Maintaining excellent kitchen standards, hygiene, and cleanliness
7. Driving continuous improvement across catering services
8. Collaborating with clinical and front-of-house teams for a seamless service
About You
You’re a confident and experienced chef with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering high standards.
Essential:
9. City & Guilds 706 Level 2 / NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent)
10. Food Safety Level 2 certification
11. Proven experience supervising catering teams
12. Experience managing budgets and controlling costs
13. Strong understanding of special diets and nutrition
14. Excellent organisational, communication, and admin skills
15. Flexible, reliable, and customer-focused approach
Desirable:
16. Higher-level food safety or health & safety qualifications
17. Experience in healthcare or similar environments
Location: The Horder Centre, Crowborough
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Shift Pattern: 5 days out of 7 Monday to Sunday: - shift times vary from 6:30am - 2:30pm I 7:00am - 3pm I 10:30am - 6:30pm I 6:30am - 6:30pm
Salary: up to £33,891.00 per annum, depending on experience + shift enhancements
Right to work in the UK
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencing employment. We have assessed this role and it does not meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. As such, we will not be accepting any visa sponsorships for this role, and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK independently, without sponsorship from Horder Healthcare.
At Horder Healthcare, we are proud to champion and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in all areas of our business. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to protected characteristics by applicable law.
In order to streamline our recruitment process, we reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
Due to the nature of work here at Horder Healthcare, and to ensure that we remain committed to our Safeguarding policy, any applicant upon an initial offer of employment will be subject to pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check). References and Occupational Health checks will also be taken up before appointment.