Head Chef - Care Home

Head Chef – Care Home (Permanent) via Supportive Bridge Staffing

Job Overview

• Position: Head Chef - Care Home (Permanent, Full-Time)

• Location: Wakehurst Hall Care Home, Haywards Heath, RH16 4AB

• Salary / Pay Rate: £41,000.00 per annum

• Contract Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Spread across 4/5 days)

• Shift Pattern: Days (Working days and alternate weekends only)

• Posted Date: 16 September 2026 | Closing Date: 1 January 2027

• Recruited via: Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency in partnership with Barchester Healthcare

About the Role

As the Head Chef at Wakehurst Hall, you will take full ownership of your kitchen and culinary team, delivering hotel and restaurant standards of hospitality without the exhausting split shifts and long hours of traditional catering roles.

You will enjoy full autonomy in crafting nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus using fresh seasonal produce, baking fresh goods from scratch, and tailoring dining experiences around our residents. Backed by the Barchester Chef Academy and internal L&D programs, you will lead, mentor, and inspire your team to create a warm, vibrant dining environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, inspire, and upskill the kitchen and front-of-house teams.

• Develop person-centred menus, working directly with residents to tailor meals to their preferences and nutritional needs (including IDDSI modified diets with full training provided).

• Prepare high-quality, wholesome dishes using fresh seasonal produce and bake fresh cakes, breads, and scones from scratch.

• Manage kitchen operations, budgets, stock control, audits, and ongoing team recruitment/retention.

• Collaborate closely with front-of-house teams to ensure immaculate dining room presentation.

What We Are Looking For

• Qualifications: Hold City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent catering qualifications.

• Experience: Proven kitchen leadership experience with a strong background working with fresh seasonal food and understanding nutrition, HACCP, and COSHH.

• Values: A personable, warm approach, a passion for culinary excellence, and a genuine commitment to resident wellbeing.

• Commitment: Available for a permanent full-time contract of 40 hours per week (working days and alternate weekends).

Rewards & Benefits Package

• Competitive Salary: Earn an attractive salary of £41,000.00 per annum.

• Work-Life Balance: Daytime working hours with straight shifts across 4 to 5 days a week and alternate weekends off.

• Bonuses & Rewards: Up to £500 through the 'Rewarding Excellence' CQC bonus scheme and unlimited £500 'Refer a Friend' bonuses.

• Wellbeing & Support: Free medical specialist access for second opinions, confidential counselling and legal services, a tax code review service, and staff lottery membership.

• Growth Opportunities: Access to the exclusive Barchester Chef Academy and industry-recognised apprenticeships.