Head Chef - Care Home
About this role
Head Chef – Care Home
Location: Tandridge Heights Memorial Care Home (Memorial Close, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0NH)
Salary: £41,600.00 per annum
Hours: 40.00 hours per week (Full-time, Permanent)
Shift: Days (4 to 5 days per week with alternate weekends—no split shifts!)
About the Role
Are you a qualified culinary leader seeking exceptional work-life balance without sacrificing hotel- and restaurant-level standards?
At Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency, we are recruiting a full-time Head Chef on behalf of Barchester Healthcare to take ownership of the kitchen operations at Tandridge Heights Memorial Care Home in Oxted.
As Head Chef, you will enjoy complete creative autonomy over menu development, crafting nutritious, seasonal, and flavorful dishes tailored to residents' preferences. You will lead a dedicated kitchen and front-of-house hospitality team, baking fresh goods daily and ensuring every meal delivers a person-centered dining experience in warm, welcoming surroundings.
Key Responsibilities
Kitchen Leadership & Management: Inspire, recruit, and upskill kitchen and front-of-house staff while managing performance and daily operations.
Culinary Excellence: Prepare high-quality, wholesome meals using fresh seasonal produce, including baking fresh cakes, scones, and bread from scratch.
Person-Centered Menus: Engage directly with residents to design nutritious, appetizing menus tailored to individual tastes and dietary requirements.
Operational Control: Manage kitchen budgets, stock control, regular audits, HACCP/COSHH compliance, and dining room presentation.
Requirements & Qualifications
Qualifications: Professional culinary certification (City & Guilds / NVQ / SVQ or equivalent).
Leadership Experience: Proven track record in inspiring, managing, and developing a culinary team.
Culinary Expertise: Experience working with fresh seasonal ingredients, menu planning, stock control, and budgeting.
Safety & Standards: Solid understanding of HACCP, COSHH, and nutrition guidelines (knowledge of the IDDSI framework for modified diets is ideal, though training will be provided).
Attributes: Personable, warm approach with a passion for resident well-being and hospitality excellence.
Rewards & Benefits
Work-Life Balance: Day shifts only across 4 or 5 days per week with alternate weekends—say goodbye to split shifts and late nights.
Competitive Salary: £41,600.00 per annum.
Inspection Bonus: Up to £500* financial reward through the 'Rewarding Excellence' bonus for CQC Good or Outstanding ratings.
Professional Development: Access to the Barchester Chef Academy, industry-recognized apprenticeships, and formal qualifications.
Health & Support Services: Free second-opinion medical specialists, confidential counseling, legal advice, and tax code review services.
Perks & Discounts: Retail, travel, and supermarket discounts, staff lottery access, and an unlimited 'Refer a Friend' scheme (up to £500* per referral).