Barchester Healthcare

Regional Bank Chef

The closing date is 04 April 2026

Job summary

This is a temporary regional bank chef role at Barchester Healthcare, a leading UK healthcare provider with over 260 homes and hospitals. The role offers a better work-life balance with day shifts, flexible hours, and the opportunity to work at multiple locations. Barchester is committed to delivering high-quality, person-centered hospitality and is looking for passionate, qualified chefs who thrive in a quality-driven environment.

Main duties of the job

As a Regional Bank Chef, you will have the opportunity to work in Barchester's care homes in and around the Darlington region. You will have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours, with full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome, and well-balanced menus. You will also take ownership of your kitchen and contribute to the ongoing development of your team. Barchester offers long-term career growth and opportunities for ambitious chefs who pride themselves on working at the highest standards.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, with over 260 homes and hospitals across the country. The company is consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new build homes set to join the Barchester family. Barchester is driven by quality and high standards, and it offers a range of benefits and rewards to its employees, including a bank enhancement of 12.07%, free learning and development, and the opportunity to showcase their talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards.

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17.50 an hour

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

1458342345

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL1 1JF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you a passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

We have a Regional Bank Chef opportunity to support our care homes in and around the region.

Working days only with the chance to work flexible hours as well as multiple locations. You will also have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.

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 and high standards.

Barchester is one of the UKs leading healthcare providers, with over 260 homes and hospitals across the country. We are consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new build homes due open and join the Barchester family. Barchester can offer long term career growth and opportunities for ambitious chefs who pride themselves on working at the highest of standards.

Your Benefits and Rewards

  • Work life balance - working days only

  • Flexible hours and shifts

  • Bank enhancement of 12.07%

  • Free learning and development

  • Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards

  • Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax

  • Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide

  • Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referral

  • Great opportunity to internally apply for permanent positions across all Barchester homes

Your Experience and Qualifications

  • A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents

  • Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

  • Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition

  • The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes

  • Confidence engaging with residents

  • Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard

  • Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH

  • Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)

We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.

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 passionate and qualified Chef looking for a better work life balance? If you are keen to be part of a company that is driven by quality and high standards, Barchester is the place to be!

We have a Regional Bank Chef opportunity to support our care homes in and around the region.

Working days only with the chance to work flexible hours as well as multiple locations. You will also have the chance to deliver hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. Our chefs have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavoursome and well balanced menus, whilst also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development.

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 and high standards.

Barchester is one of the UKs leading healthcare providers, with over 260 homes and hospitals across the country. We are consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new build homes due open and join the Barchester family. Barchester can offer long term career growth and opportunities for ambitious chefs who pride themselves on working at the highest of standards.

Your Benefits and Rewards

  • Work life balance - working days only

  • Flexible hours and shifts

  • Bank enhancement of 12.07%

  • Free learning and development

  • Opportunity to showcase your talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards

  • Tax Code Review Service to check you're on the right code and paying the right level of tax

  • Option to join our monthly staff lottery alongside your colleagues nationwide

  • Unlimited access to our Refer a Friend' scheme, earning up to £500* per referral

  • Great opportunity to internally apply for permanent positions across all Barchester homes

Your Experience and Qualifications

  • A personable and warm approach with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of residents

  • Hold City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent

  • Experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition

  • The ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within our homes

  • Confidence engaging with residents

  • Experience working with a front of house team to ensure the restaurants are set up to a high standard

  • Good understanding of HACCP and COSHH

  • Knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework (If new to care, we will train and develop chefs on these techniques)

We are exceptionally proud of our Barchester Chef Academy, where chefs have the opportunity to learn new techniques and further develop their skills, whilst also sharing their knowledge to support the growth of others across the business. This fantastic academy experience is held throughout the year and is offered to all of our chefs.

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

  • The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience working with fresh seasonal food and a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the homes. They should also have confidence engaging with residents, experience working with a front-of-house team, and a good understanding of HACCP and COSHH. Knowledge of modified diets using the IDDSI framework is preferred, but training can be provided.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • The ideal candidate will hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent qualification, have experience working with fresh seasonal food and a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the homes. They should also have confidence engaging with residents, experience working with a front-of-house team, and a good understanding of HACCP and COSHH. Knowledge of modified diets using the IDDSI framework is preferred, but training can be provided.

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

DL1 1JF


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL1 1JF


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

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17.50 an hour

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

1458342345

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Darlington

DL1 1JF


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