Barchester Healthcare

Peripatetic Chef

The closing date is 17 May 2026

Job summary

This role as a Peripatetic Chef offers a great work-life balance while making a meaningful impact. You'll be part of the Barchester family, a sector-leading healthcare provider with a focus on quality care. Barchester has received outstanding ratings and is recognized as one of the best companies to work for in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your culinary talents across multiple care homes in the Southampton region.

Main duties of the job

As a Peripatetic Chef, you'll be responsible for supporting several care home teams in the Southampton area to deliver high-quality, fresh food for residents. You'll have a personable approach, a good understanding of nutrition, and experience working with seasonal ingredients. Your strong kitchen management skills and confidence engaging with residents will be key to creating a warm and welcoming environment. In this role, you'll enjoy a competitive rate of pay, travel costs, and a range of benefits, including work-life balance with alternating weekends.

About us

Barchester 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, with a focus on celebrating life and making a difference in the lives of their residents. Barchester has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for, with a two-star outstanding rating from Best Companies and top rankings in the health and social care sector.

Details

Date posted

18 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£19 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1475832176

Job locations

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Southampton

SO30 2ZS


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

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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

0854

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You'll need NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent, as well as up-to-date food hygiene certification.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • You'll need NVQs/SVQs or City & Guilds equivalent, as well as up-to-date food hygiene certification.

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

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Southampton

SO30 2ZS


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Barchester Healthcare

Address

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Southampton

SO30 2ZS


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Team

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Recruitment@barchester.com

Details

Date posted

18 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£19 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

1475832176

Job locations

https://jobs.barchester.com/

Southampton

SO30 2ZS


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