Assistant chef jobs
At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Chef to play a pivotal role in our Coxley House Registered Care Home in Tower Hamlets.
Sounds great, what will I be doing?
They will prepare and serve nutritious, appealing meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, tailored to residents' dietary needs and preferences, including special diets like soft, diabetic-friendly, or allergen-free options. They will develop rotating menus with input from monthly resident consultations to ensure variety and balanced nutrition. Responsibilities include managing stock levels, placing orders, liaising with suppliers, and minimizing food waste. They will ensure the kitchen complies with all food hygiene, health and safety regulations, conducting regular safety checks and maintaining records for audits, following COSHH and HACCP guidelines. Working closely with care home staff, they will coordinate meal times, provide guidance to kitchen assistants when needed, and report any kitchen or dietary concerns to the Home Manager.
What do I need to bring with me?
You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.
Here's what the team will be looking for:
The ideal candidate will have experience cooking for large groups, preferably in care homes, schools, or healthcare settings, with strong knowledge of the nutritional needs of elderly or vulnerable individuals. They must demonstrate excellent food hygiene practices and comply with health and safety regulations. A Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3) is required, while catering qualifications and experience in menu planning and stock ordering are desirable. The role requires flexibility, including the ability to work weekend shifts on rotation, and may require an enhanced DBS check.
When will I be working?
Your shifts will run from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. You will be required to work on bank holidays and weekends.
Interview Steps
We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.
- Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
- Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.
Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.
We are a disability confident employer
Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.
Safeguarding Statement
Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.
Important Information for Candidates
If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.
We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.



Are you ready to lead one of London’s most vibrant and award-winning arts venues? Union Chapel is seeking a dynamic Venue Manager to oversee our busy calendar of artistic and commercial events, ensuring every visitor leaves inspired, safe, and delighted. This is a unique opportunity to shape the experiences of thousands of guests, lead a passionate team, and drive the success of a venue at the heart of the community.
As Venue Manager, you will be at the helm of our operations, balancing the creative and practical aspects of running a busy venue. From high-profile concerts to community events, you’ll ensure every production runs smoothly, safely, and to the highest standard. You’ll lead a talented team including Visitor Engagement, Bar, and Front of House staff, fostering an environment of collaboration, continuous learning, and excellence in customer service.
Your role will encompass the full spectrum of venue management: coordinating event logistics, managing budgets, overseeing bar and catering operations, and ensuring compliance with health, safety, and licensing regulations. You will act as a key point of contact for clients and stakeholders, making sure their events are delivered flawlessly while maintaining Union Chapel’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring space.
We’re looking for someone with proven experience in venue management or event leadership, ideally in a high-profile or arts-focused environment. Strong organisational skills, financial acumen, and the ability to motivate and develop teams are essential. Knowledge of licensing, bar operations, and venue management software is highly valued. Above all, you’ll bring a passion for the arts, community engagement, and creating exceptional visitor experiences.
This is a full-time position, requiring flexibility for evenings and weekends, with a salary of £40,000. Beyond operational excellence, the role offers the chance to contribute strategically to the future of Union Chapel, identifying opportunities for business development, audience growth, and continuous improvement of our venue operations.
At Union Chapel, you’ll join a team committed to arts, diversity, and community. You’ll have the autonomy to innovate, the responsibility to lead, and the satisfaction of seeing your efforts directly impact audiences and artists alike. This is more than a management role — it’s a chance to champion live arts, shape memorable events, and make a lasting mark on a beloved London institution.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment, have a track record of operational excellence, and want to lead a team in delivering world-class events, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to become Union Chapel’s next Venue Manager and take centre stage in one of London’s most unique arts venues.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Executive Officer – St Luke’s Community Centre
Location: London EC1V (on-site presence required)
Salary: Between £95,000 - £105,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Are you ready to guide St Luke’s Community Centre - south Islington’s 500-year-old community hub - into its next era of intergenerational community impact?
About St Luke’s
St Luke’s Community Centre traces its roots back over 500 years, stewarding ancient parish endowments to relieve poverty in our defined area of benefit. In 1982 we opened our purpose-built home on Central Street. In 2019 we transformed from an over-55s’ welfare organisation into a vibrant, intergenerational hub. Our programme of over 100 weekly activities has grown year-on-year, and we’ve become the first organisation in Islington to achieve the trusted standard benchmark. Our already strong reputation was bolstered by our team’s incredible response to the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic, during which we never closed, but pivoted to preparing daily meals, running befriending calls and welfare checks, and welcoming the community back in as soon as it was safe to do so. Today, we are the beating heart of the community.
As our next CEO, you will:
- Shape Strategy & Impact: Lead development and delivery of our three-year rolling strategy, balancing service excellence with financial sustainability.
- Governance & Finance: Oversee robust governance frameworks and financial controls, stewarding our £20 million investment portfolio, trading income and grant programmes.
- Operational Leadership: Inspire and support a diverse team of 44 staff and hundreds of volunteers, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, inclusion and professionalism.
- Income Generation: Unlock new revenue streams - maximising room hire, cookery-school capacity, digital/social enterprises and corporate fundraising partnerships.
- Community & Partnerships: Forge and deepen relationships with local authorities, corporate sponsors, umbrella bodies and community groups.
- Brand & Profile: Be the public face of St Luke’s, elevating communications, safeguarding our reputation and ensuring our values of inclusion, equality, friendship, wellbeing and support shine through.
Who you are
- A seasoned senior leader (CEO or equivalent), ideally within the charity, membership or community-services sectors.
- Demonstrable expertise in strategic planning, P&L management and complex stakeholder governance.
- A persuasive communicator and boardroom presenter with the gravitas to inspire trustees, staff, volunteers and funders.
- Entrepreneurial and innovative, able to identify revenue opportunities and drive their delivery.
- Hands-on and approachable - a visible presence on the shop floor as well as the board table.
- (Desirable) Experience of trading-arm management, social-enterprise models or corporate fundraising.
Why St Luke’s?
- Lead a historic, 500-year-old charity with a modern purpose-built centre at its heart.
- Salary between £95,000 - £105,000 plus generous employee benefits (Benenden health membership, pension, season-ticket loans, cycle-to-work, subsidised lunches).
- Shape a charity whose community-shop, wellbeing hub, cookery school, employment hub, lunch club and gardening projects touch hundreds of lives each week.
- Join a committed Board, supportive Chair and passionate team determined to grow St Luke’s impact in challenging times.
Please see the attached Recruitment Brief with details on how to apply.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 10th November 2025
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.


