Chef – Nursing Home

We are looking for a passionate, experienced and dedicated Chef to join our nursing home team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring our residents receive a varied, appealing, wholesome and nutritious diet, tailored to their individual assessed and recorded dietary requirements, preferences and cultural needs.

Food is an important part of our residents' wellbeing and quality of life. We are therefore looking for someone who takes pride in producing meals that are not only nutritious and safe, but also attractive, appetising and enjoyable.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, including food production, menu planning, stock and supplies, food presentation and service, record keeping, and ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure residents receive a varied, wholesome, appealing and nutritious diet that meets their individual assessed and recorded requirements.
• Prepare and present meals to a high standard, ensuring food is attractive and appetising in terms of texture, flavour, appearance and presentation.
• Prepare a range of meals, including pureed and modified-texture meals, ensuring they remain appealing and nutritious.
• Cater for residents with a variety of dietary requirements, including:
• Vegetarian and vegan diets.
• Gluten-free diets.
• Diabetic diets.
• Fortified meals.
• Modified-texture diets.
• Dysphagia requirements.
• Cultural and religious dietary requirements.
• Allergies and food intolerances.
• Work closely with residents, their representatives, care staff and visiting professionals, including Speech and Language Therapists (SALT) and dieticians, to ensure individual dietary needs and preferences are met.
• Work as part of the wider care team to create, review and improve menus based on residents' preferences, nutritional requirements and feedback.
• Manage the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, including food production, preparation, presentation and service.
• Train and support new members of kitchen staff, ensuring they understand food preparation, hygiene, safety and the home's procedures.
• Provide guidance and supervision to staff involved in the preparation and serving of food.
• Ensure food safety standards are maintained to a 5-star level at all times.
• Maintain accurate kitchen records, including food temperatures, cleaning schedules, stock records, allergen information and other required documentation.
• Ensure all food preparation and kitchen practices comply with relevant food safety, hygiene and health & safety requirements.
• Manage food supplies and stock levels effectively, ensuring appropriate ordering and minimising waste.
• Ensure the kitchen, equipment and food preparation areas are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness.
• Demonstrate excellent organisation and time management to ensure meals are prepared and served on time.
• Work closely with the management and care team to identify and respond to residents' changing dietary needs.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Previous experience working as a Chef, ideally within a nursing home, care home, hospital or similar healthcare setting.
• A genuine passion for preparing high-quality, nutritious and appetising food.
• Good knowledge and understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen requirements.
• Experience preparing meals for people with different dietary needs and preferences.
• An understanding of dysphagia, modified-texture diets and fortified meals, or willingness to develop this knowledge.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• The ability to manage and motivate kitchen staff.
• Experience training and supervising staff.
• The ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Good budget and stock management skills.
• A caring, respectful and person-centred approach.
• The ability to listen to residents and take their preferences and feedback into consideration.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, discussed at interview and dependent on experience**.**
• Supportive and friendly working environment.
• Opportunity to make a real difference to residents' wellbeing and quality of life.
• Training and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven supervising experience in a culinary or hospitality setting, preferably within healthcare or senior living environments
• Strong background in food production, preparation, and cooking techniques
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Extensive kitchen experience with knowledge of food safety standards and sanitation protocols
• Excellent organizational skills for managing inventory, ordering supplies, and maintaining records
• Familiarity with dietary restrictions common in nursing home settings (e.g., low sodium, diabetic-friendly)
• Previous restaurant or hospitality experience is highly desirable

Pay: From £15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 50.0 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food

Work Location: In person