Barchester Healthcare

Head Chef

The closing date is 24 March 2026

Job summary

The Head Chef role at Barchester Healthcare offers the opportunity to work with fresh seasonal food and have a better work-life balance, while delivering high-quality, person-centered hospitality. As a sector-leading healthcare provider, Barchester is committed to creating a warm, efficient, and supportive environment for their staff and residents.

Main duties of the job

As a Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare, you will have the chance to work with fresh, seasonal produce to create nutritious and delicious menus that cater to the preferences of the residents. You will assist the Head Chef in menu development, manage the kitchen in their absence, and work within budget to maintain high standards of food quality and presentation. Barchester values a personable and passionate approach, and they are looking for chefs who can engage with residents to tailor the menus to their needs.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is a leading provider of healthcare services in the UK, with 224 homes and hospitals across the country. They are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centered care, and have been recognized for their outstanding ratings and positive work environment. Barchester offers a range of benefits and rewards to their staff, including a refer-a-friend scheme, access to medical specialists, and a staff lottery.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£19 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1456298380

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Fontwell

BN18 0SU


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 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 HACCP

NEED 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 loves to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

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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 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 HACCP

NEED 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 loves to celebrate life, Barchester is the place to be.

0854

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, and have a good understanding of nutrition and experience working with fresh, seasonal food. They should also have a personable and warm approach, with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the residents.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, and have a good understanding of nutrition and experience working with fresh, seasonal food. They should also have a personable and warm approach, with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the residents.

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

Fontwell

BN18 0SU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Fontwell

BN18 0SU


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

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£19 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1456298380

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Fontwell

BN18 0SU


Privacy notice

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