Catering Manager - Residential Care Home
Parkside Residential Home | 65 Main Road, Romford, RM2 5EH
£35,000 per annum
Full time, permanent | 37.5 hours per week
Every other weekend included in the shift pattern
Are you an experienced Catering Manager who is passionate about preparing nutritious, freshly cooked food and creating a positive dining experience?
Parkside Residential Home is looking for a caring, organised and hands-on Catering Manager to lead its Hospitality team. You will ensure residents receive high-quality, varied meals that meet their individual dietary needs, preferences and cultural requirements.
This is a varied management and cooking role. You will work as the main cook twice each week, provide holiday cover for the other cooks and oversee the smooth running of the catering service.
About Parkside
Parkside is a Christian care home where faith, compassion and community are at the heart of everything we do.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading, supporting and developing the Hospitality team.
- Preparing and cooking fresh, homemade meals twice per week.
- Providing cooking cover during other team members’ holidays.
- Managing the staff rota to maintain a reliable seven-day catering service.
- Creating seasonal and varied menus based on residents’ needs and feedback.
- Preparing adapted meals for allergies, intolerances and other dietary requirements.
- Managing food orders, stock levels, suppliers and the catering budget.
- Maintaining Parkside’s five-star Food Hygiene rating.
- Ensuring compliance with food hygiene, HACCP and health and safety requirements.
- Maintaining accurate temperature logs, cleaning schedules, food labelling and kitchen records.
- Organising catering for birthdays, holidays and special events.
- Monitoring kitchen equipment and arranging maintenance or repairs.
- Training team members in safe working practices and the correct useof equipment.
- Completing catering audits and preparing for CQC and Environmental Health inspections.
- Working closely with care colleagues, residents and families to understand individual dietary needs and preferences.
- Monitoring food waste and supporting environmentally responsible kitchen practices.
What we are looking for
You will need:
- Previous catering or food-service management experience.
- At least two years’ experience cooking for 30 or more people in a professional kitchen.
- Experience managing or supervising a kitchen team.
- A Catering Diploma, City & Guilds, BTEC or equivalent qualification.
- NVQ Level 3 in Practical Cookery.
- A Food Hygiene Certificate at Level 2 or above.
- Knowledge of HACCP, food safety and health and safety procedures.
- Experience managing kitchen stock, suppliers and budgets.
- Strong organisational, leadership and communication skills.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office and shared digital systems.
Experience within a care home, healthcare or similar setting would be beneficial, although it is not essential.
Why join Parkside?
- Make a genuine difference to residents’ health, happiness and wellbeing.
- Lead a friendly and supportive Hospitality team.
- Work in a caring, values-led residential home.
- Take ownership of menus and help shape residents’ dining experiences.
- Enjoy a varied role combining catering management with hands-on cooking.
If you are a skilled and compassionate Catering Manager who takes pride in producing fresh, nutritious food, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Apply today by submitting your CV
