Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Head Chef – Care Home
Location: Ottley House Care Home, Corporation Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2PA
Pay Rate: £18.44 per hour
Hours: 40.00 hours per week
Employment Type: Permanent
Shift Pattern: Days (Alternate Weekends)
Looking for Culinary Leadership with Great Work-Life Balance? We’re Here to Support You!
At Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency, we partner with top-tier healthcare providers like Barchester Healthcare to connect exceptional culinary leaders with high-quality, rewarding career opportunities.
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About the Role
We are recruiting a permanent, full-time Head Chef to lead the kitchen operations at Ottley House Care Home in Shrewsbury.
In this pivotal role, you will deliver restaurant and hotel-standard dining without the split shifts and unsociable late hours of traditional hospitality. You will have full kitchen autonomy to design nutritious, seasonal, and person-centred menus, bake fresh breads and pastries from scratch, and lead a dedicated kitchen and front-of-house team.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead, mentor, and recruit for the kitchen and front-of-house dining team.
Design and prepare wholesome, high-quality menus using fresh, seasonal produce tailored to resident preferences and dietary needs.
Manage stock control, audits, kitchen budgets, and food safety standards (HACCP & COSHH).
Oversee dining area setups alongside front-of-house staff to ensure a premium experience.
Bake fresh cakes, scones, and breads daily to create a warm, homely atmosphere.
About You
To excel as Head Chef, you will bring:
City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ (or equivalent) culinary qualification.
Proven experience leading, motivating, and managing a kitchen team.
Strong background working with fresh produce, seasonal menu design, and nutrition.
Good working knowledge of HACCP and COSHH regulations.
Understanding of modified diets using the IDDSI framework (training provided if new to care).
A warm, personable approach with a genuine passion for resident wellbeing.
Rewards & Benefits
Competitive Pay: £18.44 per hour with 40 guaranteed weekly hours on day shifts (no split shifts).
Inspection Bonus: 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus up to £500 for CQC Good or Outstanding ratings.
Barchester Chef Academy: Exclusive access to specialized culinary development workshops.
Health & Wellbeing: Free access to medical specialists, legal advice, and counselling tools.
Perks & Savings: Major brand retail/travel discounts, staff lottery access, and tax review service.
Referral Scheme: Unlimited rewards up to £500 per referral through 'Refer a Friend'.