Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Head Chef – Care Home
Location: Pentland View Care Home, Scrabster Road, Thurso, Highland, KW14 7UQ
Pay Rate: £17.58 per hour
Hours: 40.00 hours per week
Shift Pattern: Day Shifts (Working days and alternate weekends across 4/5 days a week; no split shifts or late nights)
Employment Type: Permanent
About the Opportunity
Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to partner with Barchester Healthcare to recruit a passionate, creative, and experienced Head Chef for Pentland View Care Home in Thurso, Highland.
Are you a qualified culinary professional looking to deliver hotel/restaurant-standard cuisine while enjoying a fantastic work-life balance? Joining Barchester Healthcare gives you total menu autonomy, kitchen leadership responsibility, and access to the renowned Barchester Chef Academy—all without the long hours and split shifts of traditional hospitality.
About the Role
As Head Chef, you will take full ownership of the kitchen and front-of-house dining experience, leading a dedicated team to prepare high-quality, fresh, and nutritious meals tailored to residents' tastes and dietetic needs.
Key Responsibilities:
Culinary Leadership & Autonomy: Lead, inspire, and develop the kitchen team while designing person-centred, flavoursome menus using fresh seasonal produce.
Fresh Baking & Meal Preparation: Bake fresh cakes, scones, and breads from scratch and cook wholesome, high-standard dishes daily.
Dining Standards: Collaborate with the front-of-house team to ensure dining rooms and restaurant areas are set up to exceptional standards.
Kitchen Management: Manage kitchen budgets, complete regular audits, maintain strict stock control, and oversee recruitment, performance, and retention.
Safety & Compliance: Ensure full compliance with HACCP, COSHH, and nutrition guidelines (including IDDSI modified diets).
About You
We are looking for a warm, motivated, and skilled chef who takes pride in culinary excellence and resident satisfaction.
Requirements:
Qualifications: City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ (or equivalent) in Professional Cookery.
Leadership Experience: Proven track record in leading, inspiring, and managing a kitchen and dining team.
Culinary Expertise: Strong experience working with fresh seasonal produce, fresh baking, HACCP, COSHH, and menu planning.
Care-Specific Knowledge: Understanding of modified diets using the IDDSI framework (full training provided if you are new to the care sector).
Interpersonal Skills: A warm, personable approach with confidence engaging residents to tailor menus around their individual preferences.
Rewards & Benefits Package
In return for your leadership and culinary passion, you will receive:
Competitive Pay: £17.58 / hour (40 hrs/week, Permanent)
Work-Life Balance: Day shifts only with alternate weekends across 4/5 days—no split shifts!
Barchester Chef Academy: Access to ongoing professional masterclasses, culinary skill development, and industry-recognised apprenticeships.
Inspection Bonus: 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus of up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding inspection rating.
Referral Bonus: Unlimited access to the 'Refer a Friend' scheme (up to £500* per referral).
Health & Wellbeing: Free access to medical specialists for second opinions, plus free confidential counselling and legal services.
Perks & Discounts: Savings with top retail brands, supermarkets, travel companies, plus access to a Tax Code Review Service and monthly staff lottery.