Overview
As a Head Chef at HC-One, kindness is at the heart of everything you do. It is a quality that touches every part of life in our Dementia, Nursing, Residential, and Specialist care homes. Everyone who works here understands that our Residents are individuals, each with their own life stories, and by joining HC-One you will have the opportunity to give something meaningful back to them through your care and commitment. As Head Chef, you will inspire your kitchen team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals that Residents will genuinely enjoy. You will ensure every dish supports residents’ health and wellbeing, considering individual dietary needs, cultural preferences, and nutritional requirements. With hygiene and safety always front of mind, you will manage the kitchen efficiently—overseeing stock, budgets, orders, and compliance with food safety standards such as HACCP. You will work closely with central teams to maintain nutritional excellence while running a smooth, well-organised kitchen operation and help shape mealtimes into enjoyable, ambient dining experiences.
Responsibilities
* Inspire and lead the kitchen team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for Residents.
* Ensure dietary needs, cultural preferences, and nutritional requirements are considered in menu planning and execution.
* Manage kitchen operations, including stock, budgets, orders, and adherence to food safety standards (HACCP).
* Collaborate with central teams to maintain nutritional excellence and a smooth kitchen operation.
* Create enjoyable, ambient dining experiences during mealtimes.
Qualifications
* An S/NVQ2 in Catering & Hospitality or Professional Cookery
* A minimum Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate
* A good understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
Skills and Personal Qualities
Beyond qualifications, we value energy, leadership, and the ability to motivate others. You should be organised, able to plan ahead, and take pride in delivering excellent service every day. Most importantly, you will be kind, considerate, and committed to making our care homes a great place to live and work. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility; you should recognise signs of potential abuse, harm or neglect in its different forms and know what to do if there are concerns. All colleagues are required to attend safeguarding training appropriate to their role and undertake additional training as needed. You should also be able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, including escalation if action is not taken.
About HC-One and Diversity
About HC-One: kindness is a way of life. We believe caring for people means caring about what matters most to them, so we can support them to live their best possible lives. We promote five key qualities we call Kindness the HC-One Way:
* We are curious — asking questions, seeking to understand.
* We are compassionate — walking in the shoes of others.
* We are creative — finding practical ways to make things happen.
* We are courageous — supporting residents to live the life they choose.
* We are dependable — people can always count on us.
We champion inclusivity, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to be themselves. Our diverse workforce helps us learn from one another and better reflect the communities we serve. We are enhancing digital care planning to streamline care, improve outcomes, and make daily tasks more efficient. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and prioritise inclusive working practices. We support ongoing personal and professional development with clear career pathways and opportunities at regional and national levels.
Salary and Benefits
Salary: £16.60 to £17.20 per hour
* £500 welcome bonus
* Hourly rate is subject to experience and qualifications
* Paid Enhanced DBS/PVG
* Free uniform
* During a shift of eight hours or more a nutritious meal will be available
* Company pension scheme
* 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
* Group life assurance cover
* Wagestream – financial wellbeing and flexible access to pay
* Award-winning learning and development and support to achieve qualifications
* GP online for around-the-clock GP consultation via an app (including dependents under 16)
* Scope to learn from experienced colleagues as part of an outstanding team
* Colleague discounts on 1600+ high street partners
* Wellbeing support and Employee Assistance Programme
* Recognition schemes such as 'Kindness in Care' and Long Service Awards
* Refer a friend scheme (up to £1000 per referral, depending on role)
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