Head Chef - Stafford
| Posting date: | 11 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £30347.22/year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 November 2025 |
| Location: | Stafford, Staffordshire, ST19 9QT |
| Company: | Active Care Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | Activecare_85092 |
Summary
Come and join one of the UK's largest independent providers in neuro and mental healthcare. We proudly employ over 4000+ people - no matter what your experience, we have jobs for everyone.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head Chef to lead the catering team at our Stafford Hospital in Wheaton Aston, Stafford. As Head Chef you will lead and motive a friendly and dedicated team of Chefs and Kitchen Assistants who provide nutritious and enticing meals for up to 36 young people some of which could be being supported to overcome an eating disorder. Ensuring mealtimes are an enjoyable part of the day, engaging our young people in the dining experience to help ensure our young people feel valued as individuals.
What you'll be working:
- 40 hours per week across 7 days.
What you'll be doing:
The Head Chef is responsible for overseeing kitchen operations, managing staff and ensuring high food quality and safety standards. As Head Chef, you will assign duties accordingly while inspecting all aspects of food preparation to ensure everything meets Food Safety Standards and ACG standards. You will be responsible for monitoring goals, timelines and deliverables. Coordinating team efforts and ensuring that objectives and actions are completed on time and to the highest quality.
Planning & Coordination
- To plan, review, and communicate all menus, co-operating closely with the hospital clinical teams and dieticians
- Understand the key objectives and deliverables in collaboration with Head of Support Services
- To order daily and weekly food supplies, in accordance with requirements of planned menus and ensure goods received are in accordance with orders placed, invoices received and required quality
- Overseeing staff performance daily
- Schedule rotas and arrange cover in cases of absence
- Monitor inventory levels order supplies and manage food costs.
- Ensuring weekly Food Hygiene and environment cleanliness audits and where necessary action plans to address any issues arising from the audits.
- Ensure correct usage, storage and care of food products, stock control and equipment.
Team Management:
- Manage a team of Chefs and kitchen assistants, providing direction, motivation, and support to ensure a cohesive and successful team.
- Delegate and monitor tasks and responsibilities to the team.
- Conduct supervisions & appraisals that are timely and constructive.
Communication & Reporting:
- Serve as the main point of contact for suppliers, providing regular updates on status, risks, and changes.
- Prepare detailed reports for senior management as needed.
Risk Management & Problem Solving:
- Identify key risks and potential solutions to address potential issues.
- Monitor and manage timelines, ensuring deadlines are met.
Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement:
- Ensure that deliverables meet required standards and quality expectations.
- Ensure compliance with Health and Safety, Food safety and Infection Control Policies in all areas.
What you'll have:
- Work experience as a Head Chef or similar role
- Hands-on experience with food preparation and managing a kitchen environment.
- Good organisational and planning skills.
- Ability to solve problems and make decisions under pressure.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.
What to look forward to:
- 25 days plus bank holidays
- Birthday off
- Join the Active Learning Hub and benefit from a wide range of e learning and face to face training and development opportunities
- Free 24 hour confidential Employee Assistance Programme Helpline & App to support with legal, health, wellbeing, relationship and consumer advice
- A Nest Personal Pension account
- Access to join a Medicash Health Plan for you and your family to save money on everyday health essentials like going to the dentist or opticians
- We recognise outstanding Active Behaviours via the Active Awards programme
- Enhanced Sick & Maternity Pay benefits
- Refer a Friend Scheme and earn yourself up to £1000 by recommending someone you know
- and, of course, the support and guidance of our qualified clinical and business leadership teams so that you can really develop your career with Active Care Group