Head Chef

Head Chef | Alderbrook Care Home in Leeds | £16.00 per hour | 40 hours | Full Time

Alderbrook Care Home will soon open its doors to 140 residents living with complex physical and mental health needs. As we grow our team, we’re looking for a Head Chef who can bring heart, leadership, and real culinary craft to our kitchen.

This isn’t just a cooking role it’s an opportunity to shape the daily experience of every person who calls Alderbrook home. Food matters here. It brings comfort, connection, and joy. And under your leadership, it will become something our residents look forward to every day.

Why this role matters

As our Head Chef, you’ll set the tone for the entire kitchen. You’ll create meals that nourish and delight, lead and support a dedicated catering team, and ensure that everything leaving your kitchen reflects our high standards and our values.

You will be trusted to run a professional, well-organised kitchen that is safe, compliant, and full of warmth a place where your team feel proud of what they do.

What we offer

• £16.00 per hour
• 40 hours per week (days)
• Pension
• Onsite parking
• Paid DBS
• Uniform provided
• 5.6 weeks annual leave (full-time)

What you’ll be doing:

Crafting Great Food

• Prepare, cook, and serve a variety of hot and cold meals, tailored to the dietary needs and personal preferences of our residents.
• Plan and cost seasonal menus with our Group Executive Chef and Home Manager, ensuring variety, balance, and budget awareness.

Leading the Kitchen

• Be a hands-on leader guiding, supporting, and supervising kitchen staff to maintain high standards and smooth day-to-day operations.
• Deliver Basic Food Hygiene training for care colleagues involved in food handling.

Running a Safe, Compliant Kitchen

• Maintain accurate food supply records, ensure fridge/freezer temperatures are monitored, and keep all compliance documentation up to date.
• Oversee stock rotation, place orders, check deliveries, and complete stock valuations.
• Prepare kitchen rotas and help recruit new team members where needed.
• Ensure that all statutory Health & Safety standards are met.
• Maintain a spotless kitchen and dining environment.

Growing Your Skills

• Keep your culinary skills and food safety knowledge current, bringing fresh ideas and best practice into the home.

What you’ll bring

• A culinary qualification.
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificates.
• Confident leadership and communication skills.
• Experience supervising a kitchen team.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Experience preparing diets for people with specific clinical or nutritional needs. (desirable)
• Previous experience in a care setting. (advantageous, not essential)

Who we are

You’ll be joining a values-led home within the Care Concern Group, a family-owned provider with over 100 homes across the UK and growing. At Alderbrook, we live by five core values:

Trust | Respect | Passion | Kindness | Inclusivity

These aren’t just words on a wall — they shape every interaction, every decision, and every plate of food we serve.

Ready to take the lead?

If you’re a committed chef who thrives in a busy kitchen and wants to make a real impact on residents’ health and happiness, we’d love to hear from you. Take the next step and help us build a kitchen to be proud of at Alderbrook Care Home.