Cook – Barnhaven Residential Care Home (EX16 9NB)
Location: Barnhaven Residential Care Home, Tiverton, EX16 9NB
Hours: Part time / Zero hours
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Competitive, with training and development opportunities
Barnhaven Residential Care Home is a warm, welcoming, and well‑established home on the outskirts of Bampton. Our residents enjoy a calm, homely environment where nutritious, comforting meals play a central role in daily wellbeing. We are now seeking a Cook who can help us continue delivering high‑quality meals that support health, dignity, and enjoyment.
This role is ideal for someone who loves cooking, takes pride in creating wholesome food, and wants to make a meaningful difference in a close‑knit care home community. This position would be ideal for someone who is looking for part time regular shifts or the flexibility of holidays and sickness ad-hoc
About the Role
As a Cook at Barnhaven, you’ll work within a small, friendly kitchen team to prepare meals for older adults, including those living with dementia, mobility challenges, and specific dietary needs. You’ll help ensure mealtimes are safe, enjoyable, and tailored to each resident’s preferences.
You don’t need formal chef experience — just enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to learn. Full training is provided in kitchen management but you will need to have a natural ability to cook meals and bake to a high standard.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and assist with cooking meals that meet residents’ dietary needs, including soft diets, fortified meals, and allergy‑aware options.
- Follow Barnhaven’s menus and recipes to ensure consistency, quality, and nutritional balance.
- Support food preparation tasks such as chopping, mixing, portioning, and plating.
- Maintain a clean, organised kitchen in line with food hygiene regulations and CQC expectations.
- Ensure safe food storage, temperature checks, and correct handling of ingredients at all times.
- Present meals attractively and serve residents in a friendly, respectful manner.
- Work calmly and efficiently during busy periods, such as breakfast and lunchtime service.
- Support themed meals, special occasions, and personalised food requests where appropriate.
- Communicate with care staff to ensure residents’ dietary changes or preferences are met.
Experience & Skills
- Experience in cooking, food preparation, or catering is desirable but not essential — full training is provided.
- Understanding of food hygiene standards (Level 2 Food Safety is beneficial but can be provided).
- Ability to follow recipes and prepare meals consistently.
- Comfortable working in a care home environment and supporting older adults.
- Friendly, patient, and able to communicate well with residents and staff.
- Organised, reliable, and able to work independently as well as part of a small team.
- A genuine interest in cooking and providing nutritious, comforting meals.
Why Join Barnhaven?
- A warm, family‑feel environment where residents and staff build meaningful relationships.
- Supportive leadership who value kindness, teamwork, and personal development.
- Full induction and ongoing training, including food hygiene and care‑home‑specific dietary training.
- A stable, friendly workplace where your contribution directly enhances residents’ wellbeing.
- Competitive pay and opportunities to grow your skills.
If you’re enthusiastic, caring, and passionate about preparing good food, we’d love to welcome you to the Barnhaven team.
Apply today and help us continue making Barnhaven a home filled with warmth, comfort, and great meals.
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
