Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Job Title: Head Chef – Care Home
Client Location: Waterside Court Care Home, 26 Winterbrook, Wallingford, OX10 9EG
Agency: Supportive Bridge Staffing
Pay Rate: £21.00 per hour
Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Permanent)
Shift: Day Shifts (Alternate Weekends, No Split Shifts)
High Hourly Pay Rate (£21.00/hr). Outstanding Work-Life Balance. Premium Hospitality.
At Supportive Bridge Staffing, we specialize in matching exceptional culinary and hospitality leadership talent with top-tier care providers across the UK. On behalf of our client, Barchester Healthcare, we are currently recruiting an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead culinary operations at Waterside Court Care Home in Wallingford.
If you are a qualified chef looking for a better work-life balance—delivering hotel- and restaurant-standard dining using fresh seasonal produce without late night hours or split shifts—this permanent 40-hour day-shift position offers high autonomy, menu creation freedom, and sector-leading rewards.
About the Role
As Head Chef, you will take full ownership of kitchen operations and front-of-house hospitality, creating nutritious, flavoursome, and tailored menus that enhance the daily dining experience of residents.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Fresh Scratch Cooking & Baking: Preparing wholesome dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients, including baking fresh cakes, scones, and breads from scratch daily.
Person-Centred Hospitality: Engaging directly with residents to design appetising, balanced menus and catering to modified diets using the IDDSI framework.
Kitchen & Team Leadership: Leading, inspiring, and upskilling kitchen and front-of-house staff while managing shift schedules, recruitment, and retention.
Operations & Compliance: Managing kitchen budgets, stock control, regular audits, and maintaining strict adherence to HACCP and COSHH guidelines.
Dining Presentation: Collaborating with front-of-house teams to maintain high presentation standards across all dining spaces.
About You
We are seeking a warm, personable, and ambitious culinary leader who brings a passion for fresh food, nutrition, and team development.
Key Requirements & Qualifications:
Qualifications: Formal professional culinary qualifications (City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent).
Leadership Experience: Proven experience leading, motivating, and managing kitchen teams and front-of-house standards.
Culinary Skills: Solid experience with fresh seasonal produce, nutrition, HACCP, COSHH, and budget management. Knowledge of IDDSI modified diets is ideal (full training provided if new to care).
Personal Attributes: Strong interpersonal skills, creative flair, and a genuine interest in resident well-being.
Rewards Package & Benefits
Competitive Pay: £21.00 per hour (40 hours/week permanent contract).
Great Work-Life Balance: Day shifts only across 4 or 5 days per week, alternate weekends, and no split shifts.
CQC Performance Bonus: 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus offering up to £500 for a Good or Outstanding CQC rating.
Professional Academy Growth: Access to the Barchester Chef Academy, industry-recognised apprenticeships, and specialized L&D qualifications.
Wellbeing & Perks: Free medical second opinion access, confidential legal and counselling services, tax code review service, retail/supermarket discounts, and an unlimited £500 'Refer a Friend' bonus scheme.