Assistant Chef

Job Description:

Assistant Chef / Second Chef

Location: Ashley Park Care Home, The Street, Guildford GU4 7SU

Salary: £14.09 – £15.59 per hour (depending on experience)

Contract: Permanent, full time, 30 hours per week

Carehome.co.uk Rating: 9.7 | Food Hygiene Rating: 5*

About Ashley Park Care Home

Ashley Park located near Guildford provides nursing, residential, palliative, Parkinson's and convalescence care. The home offers both long-term and short-stay care.

Residents can stay for a few weeks, a month or for however long their loved one needs support. They’ll get to relax and meet new friends, giving complete peace of mind. The home has a dedicated respite room that can be booked up to a year in advance, the staff is happy to accept last-minute requests too.

Originally a nineteenth-century listed building, the home has been expertly modernised to provide a range of excellent facilities. The large landscaped gardens with patio areas, orchard, raised flower beds and lawns can be enjoyed by residents alongside a sensory garden and greenhouse.

Most bedrooms have en-suite facilities, flat-screen TVs and most offer views of the gorgeous grounds, seven acres of stunning Surrey countryside.

Meals are freshly prepared every day by the home’s onsite chef and menus can be tailored to the tastes and preferences of each resident. Residents have the choice of dining in the dining room or in their own room if preferred.

A varied activity programme aims to find activities to suit all interests and levels of mobility. A painting club, poetry group and calm exercise classes and quizzes are just a few of the activities available.

What You’ll Be Doing

As an Assistant Chef, you'll work closely alongside and report directly to the Chef Manager, supporting them in the day-to-day running of the kitchen and ensuring an exceptional dining experience for our residents.

You'll play a key role in delivering high-quality food and service by:

• Preparing and cooking high-quality, nutritious meals using fresh ingredients.
• Creating varied menus that cater for individual dietary requirements, preferences and nutritional needs.
• Supporting residents to feel at home through excellent food and dining experiences.
• Helping to lead, train and motivate kitchen team members in food preparation, cooking and service standards.
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene and cleanliness in line with HACCP, COSHH and company procedures.
• Assisting with stock control, ordering and budget management.
• Supporting special events and celebrations, including birthday parties, seasonal events and themed dining experiences.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll be someone who genuinely enjoys cooking and takes pride in producing nutritious, well-presented meals. You’ll also have:

• Previous experience working in a fresh food kitchen environment.
• Relevant food hygiene qualifications/certificates.
• A good understanding of food safety and hygiene standards.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• A positive and flexible approach, with a willingness to bring new ideas to the kitchen.
• A passion for enhancing residents’ wellbeing through great food and meaningful interactions.
• Most importantly, you’ll enjoy building relationships with residents and making every meal a memorable experience.

Why Join Bupa?

Our benefits are designed to support your health, wellbeing and financial security. As part of the team, you’ll receive:

• My Healthcare – 24/7 access to GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and more.
• Annual healthcare allowance worth approximately £350 to spend on selected Bupa healthcare products.
• Stream – access up to 40% of your earned wages before payday.
• Enhanced sick pay scheme for frontline colleagues.
• Free meal on every shift.
• Long service rewards including additional holiday and recognition awards.
• Interest-free annual travel loan.
• Bupa pension schemes.
• Discounts at a wide range of gyms and fitness facilities.

Access to Viva, our global wellbeing programme supporting physical, mental, financial, social and environmental wellbeing.

About Ashley Park Care Home

Food is a central part of life at Ashley Park. From freshly prepared daily meals and homemade cakes to special celebrations and themed events, our kitchen team plays a vital role in creating positive experiences and memorable moments for residents and their families.

The home consists of two floors, with a dining room and lounges, supporting a vibrant community of 30 residents. As an Assistant Chef, you'll play a key role in supporting the Chef Manager with the day-to-day running of the kitchen, helping to deliver exceptional dining experiences for residents through nutritious, well-presented meals that reflect their individual tastes, dietary requirements and preferences.

Be You at Bupa

At Bupa, diversity is at the heart of who we are. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

Time Type:

Part time

Job Area:

Care Home - Facilities & Home Support

Locations:

Ashley Park