Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Job Advertisement: Permanent Head Chef
Brought to you by Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency
Location: Newington Court Care Home, Keycol Hill, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7LG
Pay Rate: £21.50 per hour
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Working across 4–5 days, including alternate weekends)
Shifts: Days
Closing Date: 29 August 2026
About the Role
Are you a passionate, qualified chef looking for a better work-life balance without the split shifts and long hours? As the Head Chef at Newington Court Care Home, you will enjoy full autonomy to create nutritious, flavoursome, and balanced menus while taking complete ownership of your kitchen. Your responsibilities will include:
Leading, motivating, inspiring, and upskilling your kitchen and front-of-house teams.
Cooking high-quality, wholesome dishes from scratch using fresh seasonal produce, including baking fresh cakes, scones, and breads daily.
Engaging directly with residents to design appetising, person-centred hospitality and tailored menus.
Managing kitchen budgets, regular audits, stock control, and compliance with HACCP and COSHH guidelines.
Accessing Barchester's exclusive Chef Academy and industry-recognised apprenticeships to further develop your culinary skills.
About You
We are looking for a dedicated culinary professional with a warm, personable approach and a genuine passion for resident wellbeing. To join us, you will need:
A relevant professional qualification (City & Guilds, NVQ, SVQ, or equivalent).
Experience in leading and inspiring a team.
Strong experience working with fresh, seasonal food and a solid understanding of nutrition.
Knowledge of HACCP, COSHH, and modified diets using the IDDSI framework (full training provided if you are new to the care sector).
Rewards & Package
In addition to a fantastic work-life balance, you’ll receive an exceptional rate of £21.50 per hour and access to one of the best reward packages in the sector, including:
'Rewarding Excellence' bonus of up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection.
Unlimited earnings through our 'Refer a Friend' scheme (up to £500* per referral).
Free access to medical specialists for second opinions.
Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services.
Tax Code Review Service to ensure you are paying the correct tax.
A wide range of retail, supermarket, and leisure discounts.
Option to join our monthly staff lottery.