Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Head Chef – Care Home
Agency: Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency
Client / Setting: Elm Bank Care Home (Barchester Healthcare)
Location: 81 Northampton Road, Kettering, NN15 7JZ
Pay Rate: £19.00 per hour
Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Permanent)
Shift Pattern: Days (Working across 4 or 5 days a week, including alternate weekends – no late night split shifts!)
Looking for restaurant-quality cooking with a fantastic work-life balance?
At Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency, we specialize in placing exceptional culinary and healthcare talent into high-quality care environments. On behalf of our client, Barchester Healthcare, we are recruiting a passionate, experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary team at Elm Bank Care Home in Kettering.
📞 Call us to discuss your next role: 0800 048 5434
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Head Chef, you will have complete culinary autonomy to design nutritious, delicious, and beautifully presented menus tailored to residents' tastes and nutritional needs. You will lead a dedicated kitchen team to deliver high-end hospitality without the grueling split shifts typical of the catering industry.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead, inspire, and manage the kitchen and front-of-house hospitality team.
Cook high-quality, wholesome dishes from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Bake fresh breads, cakes, and pastry items daily.
Create person-centred menus engaging directly with residents to learn their preferences.
Prepare specialized modified diets in line with the IDDSI framework (training provided if you are new to care).
Manage kitchen budgets, stock control, suppliers, performance reviews, and regular audits.
Oversee strict adherence to Food Safety, HACCP, and COSHH regulations.
ABOUT YOU
We are looking for an ambitious culinary leader who brings warmth, creativity, and high standards to the care home environment.
Requirements & Experience:
Formal culinary qualification (City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent).
Proven experience leading, mentoring, and developing a kitchen team.
Strong background working with fresh seasonal produce and menu creation.
Solid understanding of HACCP, COSHH, and kitchen safety protocols.
A personable, warm approach with a genuine interest in resident wellbeing.
REWARDS & BENEFITS PACKAGE
Barchester offers an industry-leading benefits package designed to reward quality and dedication:
Competitive Pay: £19.00 per hour (£39,520 equivalent per annum based on 40 hrs/wk).
Work-Life Balance: Day shifts only across 4–5 days per week with alternate weekends.
‘Rewarding Excellence’ Bonus: Financial rewards of up to £500 for Good or Outstanding CQC ratings.
Refer-a-Friend Scheme: Earn up to £500 per unlimited referral.
Barchester Chef Academy: Access to specialist masterclasses, training programs, and recognized apprenticeships.
Health & Wellbeing Perks: Free access to medical second-opinion specialists, confidential counselling, and legal advice.
Discounts & Savings: Major supermarket, retail, travel, and leisure discounts.
Financial Services: Free Tax Code Review service and entry into the monthly staff lottery.