Type: Permanent Hours: Part time – 24 hours per week. 08:00 – 14:00 across 4 days to include Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy your passion for food with a better work-life balance, creative freedom, and real responsibility Are you a talented chef looking for a role that lets you do what you love—without sacrificing your evenings? Join our team at Wootton as a Chef de Partie and enjoy more sociable working hours in a supportive, community-focused environment. Why This Role Stands Out This isn’t your typical chef job. As a Chef de Partie at Wootton, you’ll: Work every weekend, with your other two working days flexibly rota’ d each week. Enjoy early finishes—we’re usually out by around 2:00 PM at Wootton, giving you your afternoons and evenings back. Have creative input into menu planning, helping shape a varied, seasonal, and resident-focused food offering. Opportunity to take on responsibility, running the kitchen in the absence of the Head Chef—including during holidays and days off. (This is a fantastic opportunity to step up and showcase your leadership potential) What You’ll Be Doing Preparing and serving high-quality, nutritious meals to residents, guests, and visitors. Supporting the Catering Manager with kitchen operations, stock control, and budgeting. Leading the kitchen team when needed to ensure smooth, uninterrupted service. Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene, and customer satisfaction. Engaging with residents to gather feedback and continuously improve our food offering. Having a say in menu development, with a focus on variety, dietary needs, and seasonal ingredients. What We’re Looking For A passion for food and delivering exceptional service. Strong communication skills and attention to detail. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Knowledge of catering equipment and food safety legislation. Qualifications A Level 2 or 3 Food Hygiene Certificate would be great —but don’t worry if you don’t have one yet. We can provide the relevant training on your first day if required. Desirable : NVQ in Kitchen Larder and Pastry (or equivalent) – showcasing your culinary technique. Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate – demonstrating your commitment to food safety. Experience in retirement living or extra care schemes. Event and function catering experience. Employee Benefits We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a paycheque. In addition to a wealth of other benefits and as part of our commitment to your wellbeing and development, we offer: Cycle to Work Scheme Retail Discounts 28 Days Annual Leave Bank Holidays Professional Development Opportunities Private Health Care Employee Assistance Programme Generous Pension Scheme Christmas Savings Club Our Values We’re proud of the work we do and the difference we make. Our values—integrity, customer focus, pride, and collaboration—guide everything we do. You’ll be part of a team that values your contribution and helps you grow. Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and bpha reserves the right to close applications early upon identification of a suitable candidate. Apply early to avoid disappointment! All offers will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment screening, including DBS check and references. INDHIGH About us bpha is a Housing Association located in the Oxford to Cambridge arc, which is committed to providing its customers with high quality, value for money services whilst continuing to develop energy efficient, sustainable and affordable housing. We are a leading provider and developer of affordable homes – for rent, sheltered, residential care and shared ownership. We work together with communities – to improve opportunities, independence and quality of life for our residents, and to benefit the wider community. We bring people together, and run and support a wide range of community activities. All the money we make is used to invest in existing homes, to enable us to build new homes, and to deliver new and improved services. We own or manage over 19,500 homes and over 500 staff. Our vision and values To build communities where people can live happily in a home they can afford. Our values underpin the work that we do and are ingrained in our culture at bpha. We are looking for people who can share these values and translate them into day-to-day practices for the benefit of our communities, customers and fellow colleagues. So that we can realise our vision, together. We are ambitious We are better together We show empathy We take responsibility Benefits We believe that benefits should be more than just perks. For us, they aren’t simply little extras added on at the end, they’re fundamental parts of what we stand for, from the very beginning. As standard. That’s why at bpha, we reward our employees by making sure we give them a supportive and caring environment, that empowers them to be happy, healthy and inspired, every day. Holiday entitlement of 28-33 days a year, plus public holidays Contributory pension scheme Competitive pay Life assurance cover Private healthcare Mental Health First Aid Counselling service Eye tests Discounted gym membership Cycle to Work scheme Free annual flu jabs Wellbeing activities and events Free fruit and refreshments Long service award Annual staff recognition awards Discretionary reward scheme Annual volunteering day Social events, clubs and activities Breakout areas Onsite cafe/restaurant at headquarters Opportunities for professional training and qualifications Workshops and training sessions for new skills A fresh and modern eLearning platform Documents