Barchester Healthcare

Second Chef - Care Home

The closing date is 23 September 2025

Job summary

This role as a Second Chef at Barchester Healthcare offers the opportunity to work with fresh seasonal food, deliver high-quality hospitality standards, and contribute to the well-being of residents in a care home setting. The job provides a good work-life balance and the chance to be part of a supportive, quality-focused organization.

Main duties of the job

As a Second Chef, you will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavorsome, and well-balanced menus while working closely with residents to tailor the menus to their preferences. You will manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence, help with menu development, and work with fresh produce to deliver high-quality and wholesome dishes. The role also involves creating a warm, efficient, and fun environment, working within budget, completing regular audits, and managing stock control.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading healthcare provider in the UK, operating 224 care homes and hospitals. The company is known for its commitment to quality care, having achieved a two-star outstanding rating from Best Companies and being ranked among the top healthcare companies to work for in the UK.

Details

Date posted

26 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£15.10 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1350489181

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Upminster

RM14 2YP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

NEED TO HAVE A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent A good understanding of nutrition Experience of working with fresh seasonal food The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus Good understanding of HACCPNEED TO DO Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence Assist Head Chef in menu development Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards Create a warm, efficient and fun environment Work within budget Complete regular audits Manage stock control REWARDS PACKAGE Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK*Terms & conditions apply

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking to work with fresh seasonal food, with the opportunity to have more of a work life balance and make what you do matter? Working as a Second Chef at Barchester, you will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long weeks. You will assist the Head Chef in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus whilst working with residents to tailor menus around them. We are proud to deliver person centred hospitality across all our services and look for warm, motivated and passionate chefs who are driven by quality. Here at Barchester, we work with an open, honest, supportive approach, where quality of care is at the heart of everything we do. As sector leading healthcare experts, we are proud to have the highest quality ratings across our 224 homes and hospitals across the UK. Barchester have proudly been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies, ranked 11th in the top 20 Best Health & Social Care Companies to work for and 14th in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

NEED TO HAVE A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent A good understanding of nutrition Experience of working with fresh seasonal food The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home Confidence engaging with residents to create appetising and nutritious menus Good understanding of HACCPNEED TO DO Manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence Assist Head Chef in menu development Work with fresh produce to deliver high quality and wholesome dishes cooked at the highest quality and standards Create a warm, efficient and fun environment Work within budget Complete regular audits Manage stock control REWARDS PACKAGE Rewarding Excellence bonus, meaning you will be financially rewarded by up to £500* for a Good or Outstanding CQC inspection Unlimited access to our generous refer a friend scheme, earning up to £500* per referral Access to a wide range of retail and leisure discounts at big brands and supermarkets Free access to medical specialists, who are available for a second opinion if you need it to make a decision with confidence Confidential and free access to counselling and legal services Tax code review service, where we will check that you are on the right code and paying the right level of tax Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside thousands of colleagues across the UK*Terms & conditions apply

If you are a passionate Chef who is keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and who love to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition and HACCP, and demonstrate experience working with fresh seasonal food.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You will need to hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have a good understanding of nutrition and HACCP, and demonstrate experience working with fresh seasonal food.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Upminster

RM14 2YP


Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Upminster

RM14 2YP


Employer's website

https://www.barchester.com/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Team

Barchester Healthcare

Recruitment@barchester.com

Details

Date posted

26 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£15.10 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1350489181

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Upminster

RM14 2YP


Privacy notice

Barchester Healthcare's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)