Kitchen Assistant - Care Home
Barchester Healthcare
£11.84/hour
Kettering, NN15 7JZ
Full time, permanent
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by students
- Recommended by parents
- Proper training
About Barchester Healthcare
Barchester Healthcare is a care group. They operate care homes and assisted living locations.
Job description from Barchester Healthcare
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Kitchen Assistant at a Barchester care home, you'll help to provide the first-class food and hospitality that enable us to give our residents exceptional all-round care and support. A healthy, nutritious diet is vital to ensuring our residents' wellbeing and helping them enjoy daily life with us, which is why the role of Kitchen Assistant is so important. You'll help to produce meals and create a fulfilling dining experience for every resident. You'll be an asset to your colleagues and your impact will reach beyond the kitchen too. There'll be plenty of opportunities for you to get to know our residents, enhance their hospitality experience and develop your skills.
ABOUT YOU
When you join us as a Kitchen Assistant, you'll play a crucial role in the success of your care home. That's why we're looking for someone who's committed to maintaining the highest standards in the kitchen and during the food preparation process. You should be reliable, considerate and caring in your approach. Formal qualifications aren't necessary, although any similar experience gained in a commercial or care setting would be useful.
REWARDS PACKAGE
In return for your dedication, you'll receive a competitive rate of pay plus our sector-leading benefits and rewards package including:
Free training and development for all roles
Access to wellbeing and support tools
A range of retail discounts and savings
Unlimited referrals with our Refer a Friend' bonus scheme
Employee of the Month' rewards and Long Service Awards'
And so much more!
If you'd like to use your attention to detail and people skills in an organisation that provides the quality care you'd expect for your loved ones, this is a rewarding place to be
Job insights from Breakroom
Kitchen and catering assistant
Kitchen porters or kitchen assistants prepare food, make sure chefs have everything they need
What you’ll do as a kitchen and catering assistant:
- Plan meals
- Prepare and cook food
- Purchase food and look after a budget
- Be responsible for the hygiene and safety of food served
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Physical activities
- Wearing a uniform
- Cleaning
- Anti-social hours
What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Barchester Healthcare pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
77% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 79 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Barchester Healthcare pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
73% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 81 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Okay
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Only some people get paid breaks
Do workers at Barchester Healthcare get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
52% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 86 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Barchester Healthcare pay sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
90% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 83 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Barchester Healthcare do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
34% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 76 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Okay
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Barchester Healthcare?
Only some people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 13% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 12% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 25% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 50% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 76 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at Barchester Healthcare worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
79% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 76 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Barchester Healthcare workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
47% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 70 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Barchester Healthcare workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
59% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 54 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Barchester Healthcare?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
69% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Barchester Healthcare managers change shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
34% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Barchester Healthcare?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
62% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 74 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Good
-
Most students say it’s good
Is a Barchester Healthcare job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
71% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.
Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.
Good
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Most parents say it’s good
Is working at Barchester Healthcare good if you’re a parent or carer?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
80% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2022 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Okay
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Only some people feel treated with respect
Do people at Barchester Healthcare feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
43% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 67 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Okay
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Only some people get proper breaks
Do people at Barchester Healthcare get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
52% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 82 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Barchester Healthcare?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
76% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 82 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Barchester Healthcare enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
75% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 73 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Barchester Healthcare recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
63% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 88 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Barchester Healthcare?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
80% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 84 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Barchester Healthcare?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 50% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 70 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Barchester Healthcare head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
84% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 75 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Barchester Healthcare is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
57% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 79 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2023 and November 2024.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Barchester Healthcare employees say about their job
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Best thing
The residents
Worst thing
The management. They will let you work your self to burn out and then blame you for it. You don't get listened to unless you get hard proof of anything so if you decide to work for Barchester make sure you get evidence of everything that is going on in the home so that you get listened to.
Barchester Healthcare Care assistant, November 2024
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Best thing
The other carers are really supportive and friendly
Very welcoming teamWorst thing
Management, unprofessional
Understaffed one carer to 17 residents with some high risk of falls. It's unsafe
No allocated breaks it's a free for all
No meals provided for staff
Lack of communication between staff and managementBarchester Healthcare Support worker, August 2024
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