Chef Manager

Job Description:
Chef Manager
Location: Thatcham Court Care Home, Chapel Street, Thatcham RG18 4QL
Contract: Permanent – Full Time
Hours: 40 hours per week - Days
Salary: £15.09 to £18.57 per hour depending on experience + £3000 annual bonus*
Welcome bonus: £1000**
CQC rating: Good
Carehome.co.uk rating: 9.7 / 10
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 Thatcham Court, 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.
About Thatcham Court
Thatcham Court is a purpose-built dementia care home. The home is dedicated to caring for adults living with dementia, from early onset to more complex end-of-life needs, the home provides all types of dementia care including nursing, residential, Parkinson's and short-stay care. The home can provide an assessment within 48 hours and, in some cases, welcome the resident the same day.
This home is situated in the centre of Thatcham and has dementia champions who work to improve the quality of life for residents through daily activities and opportunities for reminiscence and stimulation. The home’s interior has been decorated to suit individuals with dementia, being colour-themed and including memory triggers.
The chefs create well-crafted menus made with the freshest ingredients. Soon after a resident arrives at Thatcham Court, staff discuss their personal preferences and dietary needs with them. Individual diet needs and preference is included in the food menu, with mealtimes being an important part of the day.
There’s a real sense of community at the home. The staff work to discover what residents enjoy doing and the home's social calendar is organised around those interests. Activities are organised to make sure residents are always physically and mentally stimulated, including reminiscence sessions, exercise sessions and music classes. So, whether loved ones already have a hobby or would like to take up a new one, there are lots of exciting activities to get involved in.
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.
Time Type:
Full time
Job Area:
Care Home - Facilities & Home Support
Locations:
Thatcham Court