Overview
We are looking for a talented and experienced Lead Chef to run a small kitchen in our Care Home. You will be responsible for leading and coordinating all kitchen activities, from menu planning to food preparation and staff management, ensuring high quality and safety standards. You will oversee food preparation, train and supervise kitchen staff, and ensure the kitchen operates efficiently and hygienically within the operating budget.
Responsibilities
* Responsible for the preparation of balanced, healthy and varied menus for the Home. These should be pictorial menu’s to assist all residents in making choices. Each dish on the menu should come with full recipes, presentation instructions and ordering guidance to ensure maximum efficiency in the kitchen. When creating menus you should be in consultation with the Home Manager and record resident preferences or special dietary requirements on food records and cross referencing with food traceability records and the “Safe Food – Better Business” records.
* Responsible for ensuring you and the chef maintain the kitchen and all food preparation areas for efficiency, hygiene and safety in all catering areas within the Home, complying at all times with Company Policy and Procedure, Health and Safety at work. To oversee and ensure the chef maintains and records all food hygiene documentation, daily food safety checks, cleaning and kitchen hygiene checks as set out in the Cumbria Environmental Health documentation “Safe Food – Better Business”.
* Responsible and accountability for stock control of all catering items, ordering from agreed company suppliers of provisions in consultation with the Home Manager, to ensure food items are correctly stored, managed and used to prevent avoidable wastage of ingredients and fresh vegetables.
* Responsible for talking to residents, staff, families and the Home Manager to gain feedback on food preferences; meal and snack quality and seasonal menu changes.
* To oversee and ensure that the chef keeps accurate records and information in the kitchen which reflect individual residents nutritional risk assessments and nutritional dietary needs and to make sure that residents receive nutritionally appropriate food and meal options.
Qualifications and Experience
* Proven experience as a cook or chef, ideally in a care home, hospital, or similar environment.
* Level 2 or 3 Food Hygiene and Safety Certification (essential).
* Knowledge of special diets, allergens, and nutrition in elderly care.
* Strong leadership and communication skills.
* Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
* Understanding of infection control and health & safety procedures.
* The role is permanent, working 5 days per week including a share of weekends. The shift pattern is 9am - 6pm with an hour unpaid break.
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