Job summary
This is a Head Chef role at a care home operated by Barchester Healthcare. The role involves leading and inspiring a team to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for the residents. The successful candidate will have experience in catering, menu development, and working with fresh produce to create appetizing dishes. They will also have strong management skills to oversee the kitchen team and front-of-house staff.
Main duties of the job
As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development. You will lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required. You will also be responsible for menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitality, working with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standards, baking fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch, assisting the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas, working within budget, completing regular audits and stock control, creating a warm, efficient and fun environment, ongoing recruitment and retention, and managing the performance of the kitchen team and front of house.
About us
Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of high-quality care homes in the UK. They are driven by quality and high standards, and offer a range of benefits and rewards to their employees, including a 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus, a 'Refer a Friend' scheme, access to retail and leisure discounts, free access to medical specialists and counselling services, and the option to join a monthly staff lottery.
Details
Date posted
11 February 2026
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£45,000 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
Job locations
Barchester Healthcare
Guildford
GU3 3FF
Job description
Job responsibilities
Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be
Your Benefits and Rewards
* Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week
* Rewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded 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 with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies
* Free access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need it
* Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services
* Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax
* Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide
Your Experience and Qualifications
* A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
* Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
* Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team
* Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition
* The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes
* Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus
* Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard
* Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH
* Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)
Your Role and Responsibilities
* Lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required
* Menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitality
* Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standards
* Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch
* Assist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas
* Work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control
* Create a warm, efficient and fun environment
* Ongoing recruitment and retention
* Managing the performance of the kitchen team and front of house
As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.
We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.
Our internal Learning and Development team also offer industry recognised apprenticeships and further qualifications to chefs and hospitality team members who are looking to build upon and/or develop their skills.
Interested? If you are a motivated and dedicated chef who is ready to be part of something special, apply today
*Terms & conditions apply
0854
Job description
Job responsibilities
Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be
Your Benefits and Rewards
* Working days and alternate weekends only, across 4/5 days a week
* Rewarding Excellence' bonus where you will be financially rewarded 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 with big brands, supermarkets and travel companies
* Free access to medical specialists, who are on hand for a second opinion if you need it
* Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services
* Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax
* Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide
Your Experience and Qualifications
* A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents
* Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent
* Experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team
* Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition
* The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes
* Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus
* Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard
* Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH
* Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)
Your Role and Responsibilities
* Lead, motivate and inspire a team, develop and upskill where required
* Menu development, tailoring around residents to ensure we deliver person-centred hospitality
* Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked of the highest standards
* Bake fresh cakes, scones and breads from scratch
* Assist the front of house team with setting up of the dining areas
* Work within budget, complete regular audits and stock control
* Create a warm, efficient and fun environment
* Ongoing recruitment and retention
* Managing the performance of the kitchen team and front of house
As a Head Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.
We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.
Our internal Learning and Development team also offer industry recognised apprenticeships and further qualifications to chefs and hospitality team members who are looking to build upon and/or develop their skills.
Interested? If you are a motivated and dedicated chef who is ready to be part of something special, apply today
*Terms & conditions apply
0854
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team, experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment, confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus, experience working with a front of house team, good understanding of HACCP and COSHH, and knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (if new to care, you will be trained and developed on these techniques).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience in leading, motivating and inspiring a team, experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment, confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus, experience working with a front of house team, good understanding of HACCP and COSHH, and knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (if new to care, you will be trained and developed on these techniques).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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
Guildford
GU3 3FF
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Barchester Healthcare
Address
Barchester Healthcare
Guildford
GU3 3FF
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)