Head Chef

Head Chef – Wanstead, East London

Location: Chestnut Manor Care Home, 63 Cambridge Park, Wanstead, London, E11 2PR

Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum. Dependent on experience and qualifications

Hours: 40 hours per week

Shifts: 7:00am to 5:30pm, shifts across Monday to Sunday, working 4 days over 7

Job type: Permanent 

Come and make a difference with the team at Westgate Healthcare! #CareWithUsAtWestgate

We are seeking a passionate and compassionate Head Chef to lead the kitchen team at Chestnut Manor Care Home in Wanstead. This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced chef who wants to use their skills to positively impact the lives of our elderly residents.

At Westgate Healthcare, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for someone with a can-do attitude who will treat residents with dignity, care and respect while delivering nutritious, high-quality meals tailored to individual needs.

About the Role

As Head Chef, you will be responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the kitchen, ensuring residents receive meals that are both enjoyable and nutritionally balanced.

Key responsibilities include:

Managing, leading and developing the kitchen teamPreparing high-quality hot and cold meals in line with residents’ dietary needs and preferencesPlanning and delivering seasonal menus in collaboration with the Catering and Hospitality ManagerManaging budgets, stock control and supplier ordersCompleting regular audits and maintaining accurate recordsEnsuring the kitchen and storage areas are kept clean, safe and hygienic at all timesEnsuring full compliance with Health & Safety, Food Safety and regulatory requirementsCarrying out daily kitchen checks, including temperature records and equipment monitoringReporting accidents and incidents in line with company proceduresMaintaining a full working knowledge of fire safety procedures and infection prevention and control policiesCarrying out any reasonable duties as requested by the Catering and Hospitality Manager or Home Manager

About you:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

The right to live and work in the UKPrevious experience as a Head Chef or Chef in a similar setting (e.g. care home, school or healthcare environment)Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate Level 2 (or above)A good understanding of the nutritional needs of older peopleKnowledge of Health & Safety and relevant regulatory requirementsA positive, flexible and professional approach to workStrong leadership skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team

Why work at Westgate?

We value our colleagues and offer a wide range of benefits, including:

Wagestream – access your wages before payday and enjoy exclusive retail discountsBlue Light Card – access to national discountsAdditional discount schemes including Byond Prepayment Card, Extras Discounts and Cycle to Work SchemeRefer a Friend Scheme – earn up to £500 for a successful referralEmployee recognition programmes, including Employee of the Month and Long Service awardsTeam-building and social eventsSupport to achieve additional qualifications, including nationally recognised awardsAccess to financial and wellbeing support through The Care Workers CharityComprehensive induction, ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Due to the high volume of applications, if you do not hear from us within 5 working days, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Westgate Healthcare is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.

WGHROB