Barchester Healthcare

Regional Bank Chef

The closing date is 07 April 2026

Job summary

This is a temporary role as a Regional Bank Chef at Barchester Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider in the UK. The job is located in Thurso and the successful candidate will be responsible for delivering hotel/restaurant standards in the care homes, with a focus on creating nutritious and flavorsome menus while also managing the kitchen and team development.

Main duties of the job

The Regional Bank Chef will be responsible for working in the care homes in the Ashington and Bedlington areas, delivering hotel/restaurant standards without the split shifts and long hours. The chef will have full autonomy in creating nutritious, flavorsome and well-balanced menus, while also taking ownership of their kitchen and ongoing team development. The role offers a work-life balance with working days only and flexible hours, as well as the opportunity to showcase talent at the annual Barchester Hospitality Awards.

About us

Barchester Healthcare is one of the UK's leading healthcare providers, with over 260 homes and hospitals across the country. They are consistently reinvesting and growing, with several more new build homes due to 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 standards.

Details

Date posted

06 February 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17.50 an hour

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

1459815233

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Thurso

KW14 7UQ


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 the Ashington and Bedlington areas.

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 encampments 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 opportunityto 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 the Ashington and Bedlington areas.

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 encampments 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 opportunityto 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 successful candidate should hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent, have experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the care homes. They should also have experience working with a front-of-house team, good understanding of HACCP and COSHH, and knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • The successful candidate should hold a City & Guilds/NVQ/SVQ or equivalent, have experience of working with fresh seasonal food with a good understanding of nutrition, and the ability to create a warm and welcoming environment within the care homes. They should also have experience working with a front-of-house team, good understanding of HACCP and COSHH, and knowledge around modified diets using the IDDSI framework.

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

Thurso

KW14 7UQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

Barchester Healthcare

Thurso

KW14 7UQ


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 February 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£17.50 an hour

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

1459815233

Job locations

Barchester Healthcare

Thurso

KW14 7UQ


Privacy notice

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