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Second Chef Bank

Invicta Court
Gidds Pond Way, Weavering, Maidstone, Kent

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Gidds Pond Way, Weavering, Maidstone, Kent

If you’re an aspiring chef with experience gained in a high paced kitchen environment and are looking for a rewarding role offering great training, work life balance and the chance to be part of a catering team that are award winning, join Care UK as a Second Chef and make a real difference.

Being a Second Chef at Care UK

Second Chefs at Care UK are great at working with others. They enjoy sharing information and raising standards through culinary development, innovation and new ideas. They have access to a large supply chain for all catering requirements and the autonomy to create nutritious well balanced menus for everyone. They’re  self-motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and happy to take responsibility for resolving issues that arise. And, they know how to maintain team discipline and morale within the kitchen. Do you have the same sort of attributes? Then we could have just the role for you.

What you’ll be doing

Being a Second Chef isn’t just about helping the Head Chef ensure food is prepared to the agreed standard and that deadlines are met. It’s about taking control of running the kitchen in their absence. It's about using modern kitchen equipment and fresh local produce to develop full diet sensitive meals for residents so they can enjoy the same flavour and nutrition. And it's about helping to come up with menus, consulting with residents to ensure their needs and choices are met and preparing food in line with specific diets. Put simply, it’s about making a difference. A real difference.

What you’ll need

As well as a Catering Diploma (City & Guilds/BTEC) and NVQ 2/3 in practical cookery and Health and Safety. Food Hygiene Certificates (minimum level 2) are essential. You’ll also need good knowledge of nutritionally balanced menu planning and a proven ability to cater for specific dietary needs. And, if you’ve worked in a care home and/or have experience of stock control or working with a budget, even better (but not essential). Above all, you have a natural ability to help make the lives of others more fulfilling and want to work in an environment where the work can be hard, but also fun and rewarding.

The benefits
 

  • Alternate weekend working and socilabe working hours
  • Competitive rates of pay – we continuously review pay in your local market
  • Opportunities to progress through our personalised career paths into Head Chef opportunities
  • Competitive refer a friend scheme of up to £1000 depending on role
  • Quality and free training to help develop and enhance your skills
  • Bank holiday enhancements
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Free DBS
  • Thousands of online and in-store discounts across big known retailers enabling our colleagues to make big savings on every day shopping such as holidays, supermarkets and travel.
  • Employee Assistance Programme – Immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to include support such as financial and family concerns

One of the UK’s leading care home providers, Care UK run over 120 homes and day clubs across the UK that provide residential, nursing, dementia and end-of-life care for older people. A top rated employer in best quality results, our goal is to help every employee fulfil their potential by providing first-class training and support.

Fulfilling lives, fulfilling Careers.

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At a glance

Location

Gidd's Pond Way
Weavering
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 5FY

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Pay
Up to
Shifts
Days
Contract
Bank
Reference
SYS-14765

Why work at Invicta Court

At Care UK's Invicta Court in Maidstone, Kent, providing the highest standard of care for residents is at the heart of what we do. As part of our friendly team, you'll have the opportunity to develop your career and the support to go far.

Our team works in luxurious surroundings at our purpose-built care home. We provide a full range of permanent residential care and short-term respite care, including nursing care, as well as dementia care. We have fantastic facilities for residents, including a café, hair and beauty salon, bar and cinema, plus lovely landscaped gardens.

We truly believe that every one of us makes a difference. If you're a passionate, caring individual who works well in a team, consider a rewarding career at Invicta Court.

Why work at Invicta Court
Why work at Invicta Court
Why work at Invicta Court

A catering role at Care UK

A catering career at Care UK

Join our team and you'll have the chance to get creative in the kitchen while cooking up nutritious, well-balanced meals that have a direct impact on residents’ health and wellbeing.  

Many catering colleagues join us from restaurants or hotels where they’re used to working long hours late into the night. In a care home, you’ll work more sociable hours, and you’ll also have the opportunity to build relationships by getting to know residents and their tastes and preferences. This is a role where you can really make a difference. 

Looking to progress in your career? Our Chef Academy is designed to support individuals in our hospitality teams to become the future kitchen chefs and leaders within Care UK.

Everyone needs to feel motivated and rewarded, so we offer a competitive package of pay and benefits. Read more here.

Here at Care UK, we want all our colleagues to have a long and successful career with us. Our vision is to provide an inclusive training culture that empowers all colleagues with sector-leading development opportunities. View our opportunities for apprenticeships, development programmes and career progression.

At Care UK, we're proud to promote our diverse workforce and are committed to nurturing an inclusive culture. Our teams’ wellbeing is our top priority, and we believe it’s important to foster a culture of promoting open and honest conversations. Read more here.

As a colleague at Care UK, we believe it’s important that you know what you can expect from your manager to ensure people are fairly treated and properly recognised from day one. Our People Promise sets out clearly what you can expect from your manager and Care UK.

A catering career at Care UK
A catering career at Care UK
A catering career at Care UK

Trusted to care

A closely-knit team of managers, carers, nurses and support colleagues – and each of us is dedicated to your loved one’s care, health and wellbeing.

I was keen to join Care UK because it is a well-respected organisation with impressive values and a strong portfolio of homes around the country. I joined Invicta Court at the beginning of its journey as I was keen to be involved in commissioning a new home and shaping the standards of care, right from the start. 

My favourite part of the day at our Maidstone care home is when I get the chance to talk to the residents. Listening to their life experiences is fascinating, and by getting to know the people we care for, we’re better able to provide person-centred, high quality care. I am enjoying working with the team to build Invicta Court’s reputation for great care, to enable residents to live their lives to the full, and to make residents’ wishes a reality. 

At Invicta Court I'm also the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Champion for the home. It is my job to establish and maintain a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness so that residents, colleagues and visitors keep safe. 

Away from work, I love spending time with my husband and young children. When I can, I like to get out into the sunshine for some vitamin D and to recharge my batteries. I return home to Portugal at least twice a year.

Sara Barbosa Home Manager