Hydestile
CARE HOME CHEF – £16.39–£16.89 PER HOUR Godalming, Surrey | Full-Time | Alternate Weekends | Fresh Food Catering Are You a Passionate Chef Looking for a Rewarding Role with a Better Work-Life Balance? Love cooking fresh food but want to make a real difference with your skills? Imagine working in a welcoming care home where your cooking is genuinely appreciated, your creativity is encouraged, and every meal you prepare helps improve someone's quality of life. At Innov8staffing , we are recruiting an enthusiastic and experienced Chef for an established care home in Godalming, Surrey . This is an excellent opportunity for a chef who enjoys preparing fresh, nutritious meals, creating exciting seasonal menus and working in a supportive environment. £16.89 per hour | 7:30am–5:00pm | Alternate Weekends Whether you're an experienced Care Home Chef or a talented chef from a hotel, restaurant or other professional kitchen, we would love to hear from you. Why This Could Be Your Perfect Next Move This isn't just another kitchen position. You'll have the opportunity to use your culinary skills to create meals that residents genuinely look forward to, while working closely with a friendly and dedicated care team. You'll enjoy: Competitive Pay: £16.89 per hour. Daytime Working Hours: 7:30am–5:00pm, including alternate weekends. Creative Freedom: Develop fresh, varied and seasonal menus. Work-Life Balance: A full-time role without routine late-evening restaurant service. Supportive Environment: Work alongside a dedicated care home team. Career Development: Access to training and opportunities to develop your skills. Meaningful Work: Make a positive difference to residents' wellbeing every day. What Will You Be Doing? As the Care Home Chef, you'll take pride in delivering freshly prepared, nutritious and beautifully presented meals that meet residents' individual preferences and dietary requirements. Your responsibilities will include: Fresh Food, Seasonal Menus & Nutrition Preparing and cooking fresh, nutritious and appetising meals. Creating varied, balanced and seasonal menus. Preparing traditional British and continental dishes. Catering for individual preferences, allergies and dietary requirements. Encouraging resident choice and making mealtimes enjoyable. Working with the care team to support residents' nutritional wellbeing. Preparing fortified, high-protein and high-calorie meals where required. Adapting meals for residents living with dementia or experiencing reduced appetite. Specialist Diets, Dysphagia & IDDSI Preparing appropriate meals for residents with swallowing difficulties. Following individual dietary care plans and Speech and Language Therapy guidance. Preparing texture-modified meals in accordance with the IDDSI framework , including: Level 4 – Puréed Level 5 – Minced & Moist Level 6 – Soft & Bite-Sized Level 7 – Regular / Easy to Chew, as appropriate Supporting residents with specialist nutritional requirements. Ensuring modified-texture meals remain nutritious, attractive and enjoyable. Previous IDDSI experience is an advantage, but training can be provided for chefs looking to develop their knowledge of specialist care home catering. Kitchen Management, Food Safety & Compliance Maintaining excellent standards of food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness. Following HACCP procedures and food safety regulations. Working in accordance with COSHH requirements. Managing food allergens and preventing cross-contamination. Completing temperature checks, cleaning schedules and kitchen records. Ordering food supplies and maintaining appropriate stock levels. Managing food costs, stock rotation and waste within agreed budgets. Maintaining a safe and organised kitchen. Working collaboratively with kitchen colleagues, the Home Manager and care staff. What Makes You the Right Chef for This Opportunity? We're looking for someone who genuinely enjoys cooking and takes pride in the food they prepare. Ideally, you'll have: Previous experience as a Chef in a care home, hotel, restaurant, school or professional catering environment. A passion for fresh food and creating appealing menus. Strong organisational and kitchen management skills. Knowledge of food hygiene, food safety and allergens. Experience managing food stock, ordering and costs. The ability to work independently and as part of a team. A positive, reliable and compassionate approach. Good communication skills and respect for residents' individual choices. Qualifications preferred: NVQ/QCF Level 3 in Professional Cookery or equivalent. Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate. Knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and kitchen health and safety. Care home experience, IDDSI knowledge and specialist diet preparation would be particularly advantageous, but are not essential for candidates willing to learn. What's in It for You? £16.89 per hour Full-time, permanent position Daytime shifts: 7:30am–5:00pm Alternate weekends 5.6 weeks' annual leave Free meal during shifts Company pension scheme Employee Assistance Programme Free training and career development opportunities Free DBS check Long-service rewards On-site parking and employee discounts Ready to Put Your Passion for Cooking to Good Use? If you're a talented Chef who enjoys creating delicious food and wants a rewarding role where your skills are valued, we want to hear from you! You don't necessarily need previous care home experience. If you have a strong professional cooking background, a caring attitude and a willingness to learn, this could be the perfect opportunity. Apply today with your updated CV to arrange an initial conversation with Innov8staffing. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Appointment is subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check. Innov8staffing | Specialist Recruitment for the Care Sector TPBN1_UKTJ
