Care Home - Facilities & Home Support Chef Manager

Job Description:

Chef Manager

Location: Colonia Court Care Home St Andrews Avenue, Colchester, Essex CO4 3AN
Salary: £14.54 - £17.90 per hour depending on experience

Contract: Permanent | Full Time | 42 hours per Week (including some weekends)

£1,000 Welcome Bonus + Up to £3,000 Annual Bonus Potential

CQC Rated Good | Carehome.co.uk Rating: 9.7 | Food Hygiene Rating: 5*

About Colonia Court Care Home

Colonia Court offers nursing, residential and dementia care, as well as having a dedicated unit for people living with Huntington's disease. It can also offer a space for people to rest, relax and recover with short stays too. It could be a few weeks to experience living here, an advanced booking if you/ your loved ones are planning a holiday or break, a month while recovering from an operation or a more long-term move. Whatever the reason, their doors are open.

Situated in a pleasant, leafy suburb, Colonia Court offers residents a modern and purpose-built home surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. Just a short bus ride away, the home is within easy access to Colchester. There are also shops nearby for residents to visit that are within walking distance.

It is important for residents to feel at home, so it creates a friendly environment with an individually appropriate balance of care and independence. Enjoying food is an important part of life. The chefs create well-crafted menus made with the freshest ingredients and try to cater for all ethnic groups. Soon after a resident arrives at Colonia Court, staff discuss their personal preferences and dietary needs with them.

There is a real sense of community at Colonia Court. The staff work to discover what residents enjoy doing and the home's social calendar is organised around those interests. So whether your loved one already has a hobby or would like to take up a new one, there are lots of exciting activities to get involved in. From picnics in the garden and lunch clubs to pamper days and exercise groups, the home has a full social calendar.

Lead a Kitchen That Makes Every Meal Matter

At Bupa, food is about much more than nutrition-it's comfort, connection, and one of the highlights of our residents' day. We're looking for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead our kitchen team at Colonia Court Care Home, creating exceptional dining experiences that help our residents feel truly at home. Listening to residents, seeking regular feedback on meals, and understanding individual preferences are key to delivering a dining experience that is both enjoyable and meaningful.

If you're a talented chef who loves working with fresh ingredients, enjoys leading a team and wants to make a genuine difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

As Chef Manager, you'll be responsible for delivering high-quality, nutritious meals while leading and developing a dedicated kitchen team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Creating varied, nutritious menus tailored to residents' dietary requirements and personal preferences
• Preparing fresh, high-quality meals that residents look forward to every day
• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team to deliver an exceptional dining experience
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance
• Managing stock, ordering, budgets and supplier relationships effectively
• Supporting special events, seasonal celebrations and activities within the home
• Building positive relationships with residents and gathering feedback to continually enhance the dining experience

What We're Looking For

We're seeking someone who combines culinary expertise with strong leadership skills and a genuine passion for delivering outstanding care through food.

You'll have:

• Previous experience working within a fresh food kitchen environment
• Relevant food hygiene qualifications and a strong understanding of HACCP and COSHH
• Experience leading and developing a kitchen team
• Strong planning, organisational and budget management skills
• A creative approach to menu planning and food presentation
• A commitment to maintaining consistently high standards
• A warm, people-focused approach and a passion for making a difference
• Most importantly, you'll understand the impact that great food can have on wellbeing and quality of life.

Why Join Bupa?

At Bupa, our purpose is simple: helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• £1,000 Welcome Bonus
• Up to £3,000 annual performance bonus
• Free meal on every shift
• Bupa healthcare benefits and wellbeing support
• 24/7 access to remote GP appointments, physiotherapy and mental health support
• Stream - access up to 40% of your earned wages before payday
• Enhanced sick pay
• Bupa pension scheme
• Long-service rewards and recognition
• Gym and fitness discounts
• Interest-free annual travel loan

Be You at Bupa

At Bupa, diversity is at the heart of who we are. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

Apply today and help us make health happen.

*** Please note, this role is not at or above RQF Level 3 and is not included under the UK's Points Based Immigration System for sponsorship by an employer.

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