Job Title: Chef

Location: Dorchester

Salary: £14.10 per hour

Work Pattern:

30 hours per week

Shifts Approx 7am to 6pm.

Every other weekend required

Example Rota

Week 1:

Tuesday - 07:30-17:30

Friday - 07:30-17:30

Saturday - 07:30-17:30

Sunday - 07:30-17:30

Week 2:

Tuesday - 07:30-17:30

Friday - 07:30-17:30

Job Description

Reports to:

Deputy Manager

Located in the heart of Dorchester, this small and friendly residential care home is set within a beautifully converted Victorian house, overlooking Borough Gardens. It offers personalised care and support for up to 23 residents in a warm, homely environment.

The team takes pride in delivering compassionate, person-centred care — tailoring support to individual needs, routines, and preferences. Residents enjoy comfortable communal spaces, private bedrooms they can personalise, a peaceful garden with an all-weather awning, and a varied activity programme led by two dedicated co-ordinators.

Fresh, nutritious meals are prepared daily onsite, with snacks and refreshments always available. The home is led by an experienced and caring Registered Manager, who fosters a supportive team culture and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This is a place where kindness, dignity and connection come first — for both residents and staff.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Chef. This role is a pivotal part of the smooth functioning of the home, enhancing the quality of care provided. The care home is a welcoming, homely environment that is purpose designed to meet the resident’s needs holistically and enable them to live meaningful lives.

Your role will be varied and will involve communicating with the residents regularly. The care home is their home, so in your role you will need to be mindful of this and prioritize the residents and their loved ones needs, making polite conversation and building a good rapport with individuals.

You will need to participate in regular training and behave in a professional and friendly manner towards other staff and visitors, embodying the companies’ values and standards in all you do.

Duties

Liaise with residents and the team to develop and update nutritious menus to suit a variety of dietary needs and preferences.

Keep within set budgets at all times.

Ensure menus have a variety of choice, offer the opportunity to try new things and make use of seasonal produce where appropriate.

Present all food in an attractive way.

Plan menus for special occasions and events.

Cook nutritious meals from scratch, delegating appropriate tasks to your team.

Maintain, and supervise a team to keep, a clean and tidy kitchen following health and safety, food hygiene and infection control legislations.

Manage and order stock, ensuring proper stock rotation and minimising waste.

Lead and motivate the kitchen staff, fostering a positive work environment, promoting collaboration and offering support.

Supervise the team day to day and be part of formal supervisions, training, and appraisals.

Keep up to date with relevant legislation and guidance.

Complete all relevant checks and documentation.

Participate in the development of policies and procedures.

To manage any complaints relevant to the kitchen department.

Attend and lead staff meetings.

Maintain and continuously improve own knowledge.

This is not an exhaustive list, other duties and responsibilities may be required from time to time which are within your capability or skill set.

Requirements

· Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation.

· Previous experience in a similar role.

· Previous experience leading a kitchen.

· Previous experience developing menus and budgeting.

· Leadership skills.

· A compassionate and empathic approach towards elderly residents and their families.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with residents and colleagues.

· Excellent understanding of health and safety regulations and infection control practices.

· Flexibility to work various shifts, including weekends.

Benefits

· Supportive team environment

· Comprehensive training and development opportunities

· Opportunities for career advancement within the organization

· All staff receive time-and-a-half for bank holidays, and double time for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday.

· 5.6 weeks holiday.

This job role will involve working around vulnerable people therefore your employer may be required to check whether you have a criminal record via the Disclosure and Barring Service (known as a DBS check). You will also be asked questions as part of our self-disclosure section on the application form. We operate a fair recruitment process and do not discriminate. Any information you provide will be considered fairly and lawfully.

Due to the nature of our work applicants must be aged 18 or over.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities company, as are all the companies we work with. All applicants will be considered fairly and free from prejudice or discrimination.