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.

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.

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

Carehome.co.uk Top 20 Care Home 2021 award

National Care Awards finalist 2021 - Care Chef

Health Investor Awards 2021 finalist - Residential Care Provider of the Year AND Property Developer of the Year

Dementia Hero Awards 2021 finalist - Professional Excellence

UK Employee Experience 2021 Awards Bronze Winner - Employee Training and Development, Empowering Programme

Care Home Awards 2020 winner - Best Larger Care Home Group

LaingBuisson Awards 2020 finalist

National Association of Care Catering Awards 2020 finalist

Skills for Care Accolades 2020 winner - Best Employer Support for Your Registered Manager AND Most Effective Approach to Leadership and Management

Public Sector Catering Awards 2021 winner - Catering Manager of the Year

National Care Awards 2021 winner - Care Home of the Year

Care Home Professional Power List 2021

Social Care Top Leaders Awards 2021 finalist

LaingBuisson Award 2021 winner - Property Developer of the Year

LaingBuisson Award 2001 winner - Residential Care Provider of the Year

Care Home Awards 2021 winner - Best Larger Care Home Group

National Association of Care Catering Awards 2021 winner - Catering Team of the Year

National Apprenticeship Awards 2021 finalist

Caring UK Awards 2021 winner

Health Investor Award 2022 winner - Residential Care Provider of the Year

Public Sector Catering Awards 2022 finalists - Care Catering AND Chef of the Year

UK Employee Experience 2022 Awards - Best Use of Digital Technologies

Care Home Awards 2022 winner - Outstanding Larger Care Provider

NACC Awards 2022 winner - Care Establishment of the Year

Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2022 finalist

Care Home Professional Power List 2022

National Care Awards 2022 winner - Care Operations/Area Manager

Dementia Care Awards 2022 winner - Best Dementia Care Inspiring Leader

Social Care Top 30 Award 2022 finalist

LaingBuisson Award 2022 finalist - Large Residential Care

Caring UK Awards 2022 winner - Midlands & Wales Care Home of the Year

Leaders in Care Awards 2022 finalist - Care Home Provider of the Year

Health Investor Awards 2023 winner - Residential Care Provider of the Year

UK Employee Experience Awards 2023 winner - Best Employee Engagement

Public Sector Catering Awards 2023 winner - Care Catering Award

RoSPA Awards 2023 winner - Silver Award

Care Home Catering Awards 2023 finalist - Group Care Home Caterer of the Year

Care Home Awards 2023 winner - Best Care Home Marketing, Advertising or PR Activities

Nursing Times Awards 2023 winner - Nursing in Social Care

NACC Awards 2023 finalist - Catering Manager of the Year

Social Care Top 30 Award 2023 finalist

LaingBuisson Award 2023 finalist - Excellence in Large Residential Care

Leaders in Care Awards 2023 finalist - Care Home Provider of the Year

National Care Awards 2023 finalist - Care Home Group

Caring UK Awards 2023 winner - Care Group of the Year

Engage Awards 2023 finalists

Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care 2023 finalist

Health Investor Awards 2024 finalist - Care provider of the year

Care Home Awards 2024 high commendation - Best Care Home Marketing, Advertising or PR Activities

Care Home Awards 2024 finalist - Outstanding Larger Group Care Provider (over 75 homes)

Carehome.co.uk Top 20 Large Care Home Groups in the UK 2024

Public Sector Catering Awards 2024 winner - Care Catering Award

UK Employee Experience Awards 2024 winner - Best Company to Work For (large company)

UK Employee Experience Awards 2024 winner - Best Employee Experience Journey

Care Home Catering Awards 2024 finalist - Group Care Home Caterer of the Year

Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2024 finalist - Public Sector Chef Award

Dementia Care Awards 2024 finalist - The Dementia Friendly Business Award

William Rathbone Awards 2024 winner - Executive Nurse Leadership

Stars of Social Care Awards 2024 winner - Recruitment and Retention Award

Inhouse Recruitment Awards 2024 finalist - Use of Tech

Inhouse Recruitment Awards 2024 finalist - Best Place to Work

Inhouse Recruitment Awards 2024 finalist - Candidate Experience

National Association of Care Catering Awards 2024 finalist - Catering Team of the year Award

The National Care Awards 2024 winner - Care Home Group (Large)

Leaders in Care Awards 2024 finalist - Andrew Knight, Executive of the Year

LaingBussion Awards 2024 finalist - Care Home Group of the Year

National Dementia Care Awards 2024 finalist - Inspirational Leader in Dementia Care, Alison Butler

Love Laundry Awards 2024 finalist - Care Home Group

Greater Essex Careers Hub 2024 winner - Employer Encounter of the Year

Caring UK Awards 2024 finalist - Care Group of the Year

Caring UK Awards 2024 finalist - Employer of the Year

Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards 2024 finalist - HR & Recruiter award, Victoria Cole

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