Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Head Chef – Permanent
Location: Ochil Care Home, 2 Ettrick Drive, Perth, Tayside, PH1 1SB
Pay Rate: £18.00 per hour
Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Working days and alternate weekends only across 4–5 days a week)
Employment Type: Permanent
Shift: Day shifts (Say goodbye to split shifts and long hours!)
About the Role
Are you a passionate and qualified chef looking for a better work-life balance while delivering hotel- and restaurant-standard dining?
As the Head Chef at Ochil Care Home, you will have full autonomy to create nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus using fresh seasonal produce. You will lead, motivate, and inspire your kitchen team, taking full ownership of your kitchen, stock control, budgeting, and team development—all without the punishing hours of traditional hospitality roles.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Delivering high-quality, wholesome dishes cooked from scratch, including baking fresh cakes, scones, and breads
Collaborating with residents to tailor person-centred, appetising menus
Leading, mentoring, and developing your kitchen and front-of-house teams
Managing kitchen budgets, regular audits, stock control, and ongoing recruitment
Ensuring compliance with HACCP, COSHH, and IDDSI frameworks for modified diets (full training provided if new to care)
Accessing Barchester's exclusive Chef Academy to learn new techniques and advance your career
About You
To join us as Head Chef, you will need:
A personable, warm approach with a genuine interest in resident wellbeing
City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent culinary qualifications
Experience in leading, motivating, and inspiring a kitchen team
A strong background working with fresh seasonal food and a solid understanding of nutrition
Good knowledge of HACCP and COSHH compliance
Why Join Us?
Fantastic Work-Life Balance: Enjoy working across 4–5 days a week with day shifts and alternate weekends only—no split shifts!
Competitive Pay & Bonuses: Earn £18.00 per hour with opportunities for a 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus (up to £500) for Good/Outstanding inspections and 'Refer a Friend' bonuses (up to £500 per referral).
Comprehensive Benefits Package:
Access to the Barchester Chef Academy and industry-recognised apprenticeships
Free access to medical specialists for a second opinion
Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services
Tax Code Review Service
Option to join the national staff lottery