About the Role

We are recruiting a Temporary Head Chef to join a welcoming care home in North Shields. This is an excellent opportunity for a culinary leader who can deliver nutritious, appetizing meals tailored to residents’ needs while managing a small kitchen team. The role is temporary, offering competitive pay at £15.68 per hour.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Temporary Head Chef you will be responsible for running day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring meals meet dietary and quality standards, and supporting the wellbeing of residents through thoughtful menu planning and food presentation. Typical duties include:

• Planning and preparing nutritious, balanced menus that meet residents’ dietary requirements, including modified and texture-controlled diets.
• Cooking and presenting meals to consistent quality and portion standards, ensuring appearance and taste are maintained.
• Supervising and supporting kitchen staff, including training, work allocation, and maintaining morale.
• Managing stock, ordering supplies, monitoring food costs, and minimising waste.
• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations at all times.
• Keeping accurate records for temperatures, cleaning schedules, and inventory.
• Collaborating with care home management to accommodate resident allergies, preferences, and special occasions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team during shifts, ensuring smooth service for breakfast, lunch, and evening meals.
• Develop and adapt menus in line with nutritional guidance and individual care plans.
• Complete stock takes, place orders, and control kitchen budgets responsibly.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and safe food handling practices.
• Support recruitment and induction of temporary or bank kitchen staff where required.

About You

• Proven experience working as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or Senior Chef in a care, hospitality, or catering environment.
• Understanding of special diets for older adults, including fortified and texture-modified meals.
• Hold or be willing to obtain Level2 Food Hygiene (or equivalent) and allergen awareness certification.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills with a calm, professional approach.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, including some early starts or split shifts where required.
• DBS check desirable; willingness to undergo checks as part of employment.

What We Offer

• Temporary contract based in North Shields with immediate starts available.
• Competitive pay at £15.68 per hour, with holiday pay included where applicable.
• Supportive working environment within a friendly care home setting.
• Opportunities for further shifts and assignments via Chefs for Chefs.
• Ongoing support and access to training and development.

How to Apply

If you are a reliable, caring culinary professional with experience leading a kitchen and delivering high standards in a care environment, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a brief summary of your relevant experience. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

Chefs for Chefs is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. We operate as both an employment agency and an employment business.