Job Advertisement: Bank Chef

Position: Chef

Location: The Lakes Care Centre, Spine Road East, South Cerney, Cirencester, GL7 5TL

Pay Rate: £15.26 per hour (plus NVQ and weekend enhancements available)

Contract Type: Bank / 0 Hours (Shift patterns: 7:00 am - 5:00 pm or 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, working alternate weekends)

Closing Date: 31st August 2026

About the Role

As a supportive bridge staffing agency, we are partnering to recruit an experienced and talented Chef for The Lakes Care Centre. Situated in South Cerney, Cirencester, this 64-bed care home offers day, respite, residential, and dementia care in a comfortable, homely setting, boasting a 9.8 rating on Carehome.co.uk and a "Good" rating from the CQC.

Are you looking for a culinary challenge with no split shifts and no anti-social late hours? In this role, you will enjoy full autonomy over menu development, designing nutritious, high-quality, and flavoursome meals using fresh seasonal ingredients. You will oversee all aspects of the kitchen and catering services, manage a small team, and build warm relationships with residents and their families to ensure personalized dining experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Menu Autonomy & Cooking: Design and create exciting, well-balanced seasonal menus, catering to specialist diets and large groups of residents.
Kitchen Management: Oversee all kitchen operations, food hygiene, safety standards, budget management, and stock control.
Team Leadership: Lead, motivate, and inspire a small catering team to deliver exceptional dining standards.
Resident Engagement: Build meaningful connections with residents and their families to understand and accommodate individual dietary preferences.

What We Are Looking For

Experience: Proven professional kitchen experience cooking for large numbers, with strong knowledge of menu planning for specialist diets and budget management.
Qualifications: Ideally holding or working towards a Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership (or equivalent).
Leadership & Personality: A motivational leader who is confident, approachable, and passionate about enhancing the lives of elderly residents through great food.

Benefits & Rewards

Competitive Pay: £15.26 per hour, with higher rates for weekends and NVQ qualifications.
Lifestyle Balance: Bank shifts offering regular work without the burden of split shifts or late nights.
Generous Leave: 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays).
Wellbeing Support: Company pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme.
Perks & Schemes: Free uniform, free enhanced DBS check, Blue Light Card discounts, "My Rewards" programme, and a Refer-a-Friend scheme rewarding up to £1,000.