Head Chef

Main duties of the job

The Head Chef at Avery Healthcare is integral to the operation of Milton Court Care Home in Milton Keynes. This role focuses on managing a culinary team to provide a nutritionally balanced and high-quality culinary service within budget, significantly impacting residents' well-being. Responsibilities include preparing modified diets in line with IDDSI guidance, placing food orders with approved suppliers while maintaining budget compliance, supervising kitchen staff and the Host team, and ensuring safe working systems. Successful candidates should embody core values like caring, support, honesty, respect, and accountability. Essential qualifications include two years' experience in a similar role within the care or hospitality sectors and relevant catering credentials such as City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ. The role offers challenges and the reward of making a tangible difference in the community. Additionally, prospective candidates should be ready for a DBS Disclosure check, sponsored by Avery Healthcare.

About us

Avery Healthcare is one of the UK's largest providers of luxury elderly care homes, driven by the belief that later life should be enriching. They are committed to creating meaningful experiences for both residents and staff, fostering an environment filled with respect, compassion, and shared dedication to exceptional care. Avery's mission of 'creating meaningful lives together' extends through its network of over 100 homes across the country. Employees at Avery are valued and empowered, contributing to a supportive environment where they can grow professionally. The company is not just a place of work but a community where team members can feel an essential part of a larger purpose, which is evident in its culture and operational strategies. Avery also emphasizes continuous professional development, celebrating achievements and fostering resilience. This commitment makes them a preferred choice for both staff and residents, focusing on high standards and community well-being.

Details

Date posted

04 September 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£16.64 an hour

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

1547026281

Job locations

Avery Healthcare

Kents Hill

MK7 6JD

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your focus as a Head Chef will be to manage and lead a culinary team that provides nutritionally balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality culinary service that contributes to the overall well-being of the residents and is achieved within budget.

Other responsibilities will include:

• Preparing modified diets that look appealing and are well-balanced and in accordance with IDDSI guidance.
• Placing food orders, subject to appropriate levels of authority, with approved suppliers, complying with procedures to maintain appropriate stock levels and control, ensuring good quality provisions are purchased within agreed budget limits.
• Supervising and directing the work of other kitchen staff and the Host team, instructing and demonstrating simple food preparation activities to unqualified staff.
• Practicing safe systems of work across the range of tasks and moving and handling loads by assessing risk and having due regard for the personal safety of residents, visitors, and staff.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in your application, you must live our values of caring, support, honesty, respect, and accountability in all that you do.

Our ideal candidate must:

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors.
• Hold a relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.
• Demonstrate passion and commitment to the delivery of high-quality culinary standards to residents.
• Demonstrate an ability to control a budget.

ABOUT AVERY

At Avery, were not just one of the UKs largest providers of luxury elderly care homes were a place where people love to work. We believe that the later years of life should be as enriching as any other, and were passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our residents and our team alike. With our vision of "creating meaningful lives together," we proudly offer exceptional care across our growing network of over 100 homes, building a supportive and inspiring environment where employees feel valued and empowered every day. Join us and see why Avery is the preferred choice for residents and team members alike.

Please note this role will require:

• A DBS Disclosure check, the cost of which will be met by Avery Healthcare.
• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

This advert may be withdrawn prior to the advertised deadline depending on the volume of applications received and business needs.

Job responsibilities

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your focus as a Head Chef will be to manage and lead a culinary team that provides nutritionally balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality culinary service that contributes to the overall well-being of the residents and is achieved within budget.

Other responsibilities will include:

• Preparing modified diets that look appealing and are well-balanced and in accordance with IDDSI guidance.
• Placing food orders, subject to appropriate levels of authority, with approved suppliers, complying with procedures to maintain appropriate stock levels and control, ensuring good quality provisions are purchased within agreed budget limits.
• Supervising and directing the work of other kitchen staff and the Host team, instructing and demonstrating simple food preparation activities to unqualified staff.
• Practicing safe systems of work across the range of tasks and moving and handling loads by assessing risk and having due regard for the personal safety of residents, visitors, and staff.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in your application, you must live our values of caring, support, honesty, respect, and accountability in all that you do.

Our ideal candidate must:

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors.
• Hold a relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.
• Demonstrate passion and commitment to the delivery of high-quality culinary standards to residents.
• Demonstrate an ability to control a budget.

ABOUT AVERY

At Avery, were not just one of the UKs largest providers of luxury elderly care homes were a place where people love to work. We believe that the later years of life should be as enriching as any other, and were passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our residents and our team alike. With our vision of "creating meaningful lives together," we proudly offer exceptional care across our growing network of over 100 homes, building a supportive and inspiring environment where employees feel valued and empowered every day. Join us and see why Avery is the preferred choice for residents and team members alike.

Please note this role will require:

• A DBS Disclosure check, the cost of which will be met by Avery Healthcare.
• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

This advert may be withdrawn prior to the advertised deadline depending on the volume of applications received and business needs.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors. Relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors. Relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.

Address

Avery Healthcare

Kents Hill

MK7 6JD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.averyhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Avery Healthcare Group Ltd.

Address

Avery Healthcare

Kents Hill

MK7 6JD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.averyhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your focus as a Head Chef will be to manage and lead a culinary team that provides nutritionally balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality culinary service that contributes to the overall well-being of the residents and is achieved within budget.

Other responsibilities will include:

• Preparing modified diets that look appealing and are well-balanced and in accordance with IDDSI guidance.
• Placing food orders, subject to appropriate levels of authority, with approved suppliers, complying with procedures to maintain appropriate stock levels and control, ensuring good quality provisions are purchased within agreed budget limits.
• Supervising and directing the work of other kitchen staff and the Host team, instructing and demonstrating simple food preparation activities to unqualified staff.
• Practicing safe systems of work across the range of tasks and moving and handling loads by assessing risk and having due regard for the personal safety of residents, visitors, and staff.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in your application, you must live our values of caring, support, honesty, respect, and accountability in all that you do.

Our ideal candidate must:

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors.
• Hold a relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.
• Demonstrate passion and commitment to the delivery of high-quality culinary standards to residents.
• Demonstrate an ability to control a budget.

ABOUT AVERY

At Avery, were not just one of the UKs largest providers of luxury elderly care homes were a place where people love to work. We believe that the later years of life should be as enriching as any other, and were passionate about creating meaningful experiences for our residents and our team alike. With our vision of "creating meaningful lives together," we proudly offer exceptional care across our growing network of over 100 homes, building a supportive and inspiring environment where employees feel valued and empowered every day. Join us and see why Avery is the preferred choice for residents and team members alike.

Please note this role will require:

• A DBS Disclosure check, the cost of which will be met by Avery Healthcare.
• Proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

This advert may be withdrawn prior to the advertised deadline depending on the volume of applications received and business needs.

Qualifications

Essential

• Two years experience managing a culinary team in the care or hospitality sectors. Relevant catering qualification City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or NVQ.