Overview
This job opportunity at Barchester Healthcare in Darlington is for a Second Chef position in a care home. The role involves working alongside the Head Chef to create nutritious, flavorsome, and well-balanced menus for the residents, while maintaining high standards of quality and hospitality. Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, with a strong focus on quality of care and employee well-being.
Barchester Healthcare is a sector-leading healthcare provider in the UK, operating 224 homes and hospitals across the country. They have been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, and are ranked among the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and the top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.
Details
Date posted: 27 August 2025
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £13.89 an hour
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 1370319152
Job locations: Barchester Healthcare, Darlington, DL3 0SW
Job description
Job responsibilities: Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.
NEED TO HAVE: A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents; Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent; A good understanding of nutrition; Experience of working with fresh seasonal food; The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home; Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus; Good understanding of HACCP.
NEED TO DO: Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence; Assist Head Chef in menu development; Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards; Create a warm, efficient and fun environment; Work within budget; Complete regular audits; Manage stock control.
Rewards
Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection; Unlimited access to our refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral; Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets; Free access to medical specialists; Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services; Tax code review service; Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK. *Terms & conditions apply
If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.
Qualifications
Person Specification Qualifications Essential
* A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
* Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
* A good understanding of nutrition
* Experience of working with fresh seasonal food
* The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the home
* Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus
* Good understanding of HACCP
Disclosure
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name: Barchester Healthcare
Address: Barchester Healthcare, Darlington, DL3 0SW
Employer's website: https://www.barchester.com/
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