Chef

Care Home Chef / Cook | Wellington Lodge, Cheetham Hill, Manchester £13.47 per hour | 35hrs/week | 4 days on, 3 days off | Every other weekend off
Anchor – England's largest not-for-profit care provider

The Role We're looking for an experienced Chef or Cook to join our kitchen at Wellington Lodge in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Working alongside our Chef Manager, you'll prepare fresh, seasonal, home-cooked meals for our 32 residents daily. In the Chef Manager's absence, you'll take the lead — making this an ideal second chef or deputy chef opportunity for someone ready to step up.

You'll have genuine input into seasonal menus, with the chance to enter our annual Chef of the Year competition.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a chef or cook, with a passion for cooking from fresh ingredients
• Confident designing and delivering seasonal, balanced menus from scratch
• Strong knife skills and solid grounding in classic cooking techniques
• A creative approach to food — someone who takes pride in presentation and flavour
• Understanding of food hygiene and safety standards (Level 2 minimum, Level 3 preferred)
• Ability to manage and lead a kitchen independently when required
• Right to work in the UK (required)

What You'll Get

• Sociable daytime hours — no late nights or split shifts
• 3 days at 07:45–17:45, plus a half day 07:45–12:45 or 12:45–17:45
• Every other weekend off
• Matched pension up to 8%
• Free Blue Light Card + big-brand discounts
• £250 refer-a-friend bonus
• Career development, training, and progression opportunities — a genuine pathway to Chef Manager
• Mental health and wellbeing support

About Anchor We're not-for-profit, so every saving is reinvested into our staff, residents, and facilities — meaning better pay, better training, and a better workplace.

Hear from our chefs: www.anchor.org.uk/careers/care-home-chef-and-catering-jobs

Apply in minutes. We'll be in touch within 2-3 working days (if not sooner).

Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit providers of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not-for-profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support
• Flexible working options

Finance

• Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better
• Quick and easy pension transfer service
• Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance
• Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

• Ongoing personal and professional development programme
• Leadership Pathways online learning resources
• Career progression and promotion opportunities

To see our full range of benefits, check out our dedicated rewards website  

Celebrating diversity, celebrating you

Anchor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aim to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we know that the more diverse our colleagues are, the better care and support we can give to our residents and each other.  

We are proud to have an LGBT+ group for our residents, and also Disability, LGBT+ and race and ethnicity colleague networks. These work to celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and practice and empower their members.  We also have an Inclusive Ambassador network to allow all colleagues to be part of promoting diversity and to be an ally to others.

We are a member of Inclusive Employers, a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant and HouseProud Pledge schemes.