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Barchester Healthcare

Peripatetic Chef

The closing date is 07 March 2026

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Job summary

This Peripatetic Chef role at Barchester Healthcare offers a great work-life balance, where you can make a real difference in the lives of care home residents. You'll be supporting multiple care homes in the Darlington area, delivering high-quality fresh food and creating a warm, welcoming environment. Barchester is a sector-leading healthcare provider, with a strong focus on quality of care and a commitment to its employees. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company that celebrates life and values its staff.

Main duties of the job

As a Peripatetic Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you'll be responsible for supporting multiple care homes in the Darlington area, ensuring residents receive high-quality, freshly prepared meals. You'll have a good understanding of nutrition and experience in working with seasonal, fresh ingredients. Your personable approach and ability to engage with residents will help create a warm and welcoming environment within the homes. Strong kitchen management skills and up-to-date food hygiene knowledge are essential for this role.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading healthcare provider in the UK, operating 224 care homes and hospitals across the country. They are committed to providing the highest quality of care and have been awarded a two-star outstanding rating by Best Companies. Barchester is also the only healthcare provider in the UK to be accredited as one of the best companies to work for.

Details

Date posted

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1451223845

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL3 0SW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking for more of a work life balance whilst looking for an opportunity to make what you do matter? We are currently looking for a Peripatetic Chef to join the Barchester family to help support our care homes in and around our the region. Great opportunity to help support several teams and homes in delivering high quality fresh food.Here at the Barchester family, 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. It is an exciting time to join the Barchester family . We have an ambitious new builds programme, aiming to open 10 brand new purpose-built homes per year. 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. Barchester are also very proud to be the only healthcare provider in the UK to be accredited as one of the best companies to work for.

ABOUT YOU A personable approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents A good understanding of nutrition Experience of working with fresh seasonal food NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent Up to date food hygiene Ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home Confidence engaging with residents Strong kitchen management skills

REWARDS PACKAGE

Work life balance - working days with alternate weekends Competitive rate of pay + travel costs A range of holiday, retail and leisure discounts Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend bonus scheme

If you are a passionate chef who is keen to be part of a company that centres on celebrating life and making a difference, Barchester is the place to be.

Please follow the link to apply and for further information please contact Tara Connor on tara.connor@barchester.com

5432

Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you a qualified Chef looking for more of a work life balance whilst looking for an opportunity to make what you do matter? We are currently looking for a Peripatetic Chef to join the Barchester family to help support our care homes in and around our the region. Great opportunity to help support several teams and homes in delivering high quality fresh food.Here at the Barchester family, 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. It is an exciting time to join the Barchester family . We have an ambitious new builds programme, aiming to open 10 brand new purpose-built homes per year. 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. Barchester are also very proud to be the only healthcare provider in the UK to be accredited as one of the best companies to work for.

ABOUT YOU A personable approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents A good understanding of nutrition Experience of working with fresh seasonal food NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent Up to date food hygiene Ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our home Confidence engaging with residents Strong kitchen management skills

REWARDS PACKAGE

Work life balance - working days with alternate weekends Competitive rate of pay + travel costs A range of holiday, retail and leisure discounts Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend bonus scheme

If you are a passionate chef who is keen to be part of a company that centres on celebrating life and making a difference, Barchester is the place to be.

Please follow the link to apply and for further information please contact Tara Connor on tara.connor@barchester.com

5432

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You'll need to have relevant NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent, as well as up-to-date food hygiene certification. A good understanding of nutrition and experience in working with fresh, seasonal food is also required.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You'll need to have relevant NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent, as well as up-to-date food hygiene certification. A good understanding of nutrition and experience in working with fresh, seasonal food is also required.

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

Darlington

DL3 0SW


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL3 0SW


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

06 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1451223845

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL3 0SW


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