Job Ref: AUR1556
Branch: The Oaks Care Home
Location: The Oaks Care Home, Colchester
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Hours per week: 40
Posted date: 18/05/2026
Closing date: 20/06/2026
Are you seeking an opportunity to make a positive impact in your local community?
Do you enjoy cooking and have experience?
Are you able to work alongside residents in a Care Home to cater for their meals?
What does the job role involve?
The role includes but is not limited to:
- To control and monitor the progress of assistants and trainees and inform the Head Chef accordingly of any training required.
- To maintain the standard of health and hygiene as instructed by the Head Chef.
- To prepare special diet meals in accordance with instructions from the care staff.
- To ensure a high level of service for all meal times.
- To complete all documentation relating to HACCP.
- To ensure report any defects to equipment to the Home Manager.
- To ensure good quality and portion control.
- Assist Head Chef with four weekly menu planning.
- To carry out all general duties and responsibilities in the absence of the Head Chef.
- To carry out any reasonable duties requested by senior staff that will aid and assist the smooth running of the home.
- Any ad hoc duties to meet service delivery for our residents and home.
What makes a successful candidate:
- Must have previous cooking experience
- Knowledge of special and nutritional diets
- Able to order and stock take
- Good communication skills
- Be able to follow and prioritise tasks and responsibilities
- Engage well with people we support in their continuing interests and supporting positive experiences
- Able to work well as part of a team and independently
What can we offer you in return for your hardwork and commitment?
- Full time contract
- 40 hours per week
- Able to work from 7:30am, weekdays and alternate weekends.
- Pay rate: £14.28 per hour (Salary: £29,702 per annum)
- 28 Days Annual Leave including bank holidays (pro rata for part time contracts)
- Life insurance
- Free DBS (TC's apply)
- Free or discounted meals
- Free parking
- Company pension
- Wagestream – Same-day pay
- Our employee assist programme – healthcare and mental health support
- Free in house training via our elearning platform, your Hippo, in addition to our fully funded apprenticeship courses.
- Yearly salary review
- Being part of an organisation where empowering and valuing our people is fundamental to everything we do
Please Note: Aurem Care is not a sponsoring organisation. Therefore the successful applicant must already possess the right to work in the UK or be able to secure the right to work in the UK independently.
Why join us?
Aurem Care have been awarded for the prestigious ‘Top 20 Care Home Group’ accolade by carehome.co.uk, celebrating our commitment to excellence in care across the UK.
Our homes are all about people caring about people, we believe our care homes should be happy homes for loved ones.
Our team play an important role in our homes, to ensure that our values are lived and embraced every day.
Diversity, Integrity, Fun, Committed and Connecting
If these are values that resonate with you and you’re looking for a rewarding job in making a real difference to the lives of our amazing residents, then we want to hear from you now!
The Oaks care home in Colchester provides expert, warm, person-centred care for up to 61 older people who require dementia, nursing or residential support.The Oaks has a beautifully decorated and homely feel. There’s always a full diary of fun social events and activities, thanks to our dedicated activities co-ordinators. Mealtimes are carefully planned with delicious, fresh food cooked on-site and our fully trained, friendly team of carers and nurses are on hand 24/7, whenever needed. The home is spacious and with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, bedrooms are beautifully decorated, while the coffee lounge, cinema lounge and open-plan dining room offer the perfect place for you to relax or socialise in. We have the added benefit of being surrounded by large gardens and well-manicured lawns, which were created by award winning gardener, author and lecturer, Beth Chatto.
