Job Description: Senior Chef – Care Home
Job Title: Senior Chef
Reports To: Home Manager / General Manager
Responsible For: Kitchen Team / Catering Assistants
Job Purpose
The Senior Chef is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the care home's kitchen, ensuring that residents receive nutritious, appetising, varied and high-quality meals that meet their individual dietary, nutritional and cultural requirements.
Working closely with the Home Manager, care team, residents and families, the Senior Chef will lead the catering team, maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene, manage kitchen stock and resources, and ensure that meals are prepared and served in a person-centred manner.
The role requires a strong understanding of the specific dietary needs of older people and vulnerable adults, including modified-texture diets, allergies, intolerances and specialist nutritional requirements.
Key ResponsibilitiesFood Preparation & Menu Planning
- Plan, prepare and cook a varied selection of nutritious and appealing meals.
- Develop menus that reflect residents' preferences, dietary requirements and nutritional needs.
- Provide suitable alternatives for residents with allergies, intolerances, religious or cultural dietary requirements.
- Prepare meals in accordance with individual care plans and prescribed dietary requirements.
- Ensure appropriate meals are available for residents requiring modified-texture or specialist diets.
- Maintain high standards of presentation, taste, portion control and consistency.
- Support special events, celebrations and themed meals within the home.
Resident-Centred Catering
- Take an active interest in residents' likes, dislikes and individual preferences.
- Work with residents and the care team to gather feedback and continually improve the dining experience.
- Support residents who may have reduced appetites or specific nutritional needs.
- Ensure mealtimes are treated as an important part of residents' daily experience, promoting dignity, choice and independence wherever possible.
- Respond appropriately to changing dietary requirements and recommendations from healthcare professionals.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate and support the kitchen team to deliver consistently high standards.
- Allocate daily duties and ensure adequate staffing and kitchen cover.
- Train and supervise kitchen staff in food preparation, hygiene, health and safety and care-home catering requirements.
- Monitor staff performance and provide guidance, coaching and feedback where appropriate.
- Promote a positive, respectful and professional working environment.
- Ensure all team members follow the home's policies and procedures.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Maintain excellent standards of kitchen cleanliness, hygiene and food safety.
- Ensure food is stored, prepared, cooked, cooled and reheated safely and in accordance with current legislation and company procedures.
- Maintain accurate records, including temperature checks, cleaning schedules, allergen information and food safety documentation.
- Manage allergen controls and prevent cross-contamination.
- Ensure kitchen equipment is used safely and maintained appropriately.
- Work with management to ensure the kitchen is prepared for internal and external inspections.
Stock & Budget Management
- Monitor food stocks and place orders within agreed budgets.
- Maintain appropriate stock levels while minimising waste.
- Check deliveries for quality, quantity, temperature and condition.
- Store food correctly and monitor use-by dates.
- Maintain effective stock rotation using appropriate procedures.
- Assist with monitoring catering expenditure and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising quality.
Communication & Teamwork
- Work closely with care staff, management and other departments to ensure residents' nutritional needs are met.
- Communicate changes to menus and dietary requirements effectively.
- Attend relevant meetings and contribute to care and service improvement discussions.
- Maintain professional communication with residents, relatives, colleagues and external professionals.
Person SpecificationEssential
- Relevant professional cooking experience, preferably within a care home, healthcare, hotel, restaurant or similar environment.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and safe catering practices.
- Experience leading or supervising a kitchen team.
- Knowledge of special diets, allergies and food intolerances.
- Ability to prepare nutritious meals for a range of dietary requirements.
- Good organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work calmly and effectively in a busy environment.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- A genuine interest in providing high-quality food and a positive dining experience for residents.
- Understanding of confidentiality, dignity and person-centred care.
Desirable
- Catering or professional cookery qualification.
- Food Safety qualification (Level 2 or above).
- Experience working with modified-texture diets and nutritional support.
- Experience working in a care home, nursing home, hospital or other healthcare setting.
- Knowledge of current food safety and allergen legislation.
- Experience with stock control, ordering and catering budgets.
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate will be:
- Caring, compassionate and respectful.
- Passionate about food and high standards.
- Patient and understanding when working with older or vulnerable people.
- Reliable, organised and responsible.
- A confident team leader who leads by example.
- Flexible and willing to respond to residents' changing needs.
- Committed to maintaining dignity, choice and independence.
- Proactive in identifying opportunities to improve the catering service.
Key Performance Indicators
The Senior Chef will be expected to contribute to:
- High levels of resident satisfaction with food and mealtimes.
- Consistently high food safety and hygiene standards.
- Accurate management of allergens and dietary requirements.
- Effective stock control and minimisation of food waste.
- Compliance with company policies and relevant legislation.
- A well-trained, motivated and effective kitchen team.
- Consistent delivery of nutritious, attractive and good-quality meals.
Safeguarding & Equality
The Senior Chef must work in accordance with the home's safeguarding, equality, diversity, health and safety, confidentiality and infection-control policies.
All residents must be treated with dignity, respect and fairness, with their individual choices, needs and preferences recognised and supported.
Pay: Up to £39,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
