Some career paths are quite reputable, and many people work to bag themselves the positions. An example is being a chef, either in restaurants or any facility needing cooking services. Despite the title ‘chef,’ there are different types of chefs. It depends on your qualifications and experience, which earn you a specific title and rank. An example is a nursing home chef and care home chef.
The above positions are not quite familiar, unlike executive chefs, sous chefs, and others. Both are based outside restaurants but with roles almost similar to the latter. So, how different is a care home cook from a nursing home cook? Let’s expound on that below.
Who is a care home cook?
It’s someone who prepares and serves meals to home residents. The residents can be a mixture of age groups with different dietary requirements or nutritional needs. The care home kitchen is usually small, unlike restaurant kitchens. The staff is also limited, meaning the chef must undertake most roles.
The responsibilities include prepping and cooking the food, menu development, ordering food supplies, and cleaning the kitchen. In sum, the general management of the kitchen and anything related to it is the care home cook’s responsibility.
As a care home chef, you’ll prepare food for the same group of people on a daily basis. Chances are, you will see and interact with them to find out their likes and dislikes. It allows you to get new menu ideas; hence, good communication skills are vital. Also, you need to be sensitive to their needs. This job position requires previous experience working in a commercial kitchen and may be permanent or temporary based on the signed agreement.
Who is a nursing home cook?
This cook splits time between the dining area and the kitchen. They are responsible for preparing breakfast, lunch, and supper for the residents. As the chef, you may cook and serve while following the dietary guidelines. You assist the head chef in planning meals, purchasing all foods, and recommending the ideal portions based on the demand. You also work with health care professionals to ensure proper nutrition is met for every person
Other responsibilities include cleaning the kitchen and dining rooms and safe food handling. This position is primarily long-term and requires previous kitchen experience. Additionally, good culinary skills are a plus, as are other essential chef qualities.
What are the differences between these two cooks?
Both share some similarities considering they are all chefs. However, significant differences are evident with regard to responsibilities, working time frame, and much more. They include;
The care home cook is superior to the nursing home chef. Though both work in the kitchen, the first has more managerial rights than the latter. The care home cook oversees the running of the kitchen, ensuring everything is okay. He creates the menu, prepares and cooks the food while the nursing cook prepares and may assist the head chef in cooking the meals. In the nursing home, the staff is larger, so the chef doesn’t carry all the burden.
Nursing home cooks sometimes deal with bed-bound patients, unlike the care home cook. They cook meals for them, ensuring they have the proper nutritional value.
Nursing homes are facilities that have existed for ages. On the other hand, care homes can be created temporarily or long-term, depending on the resident’s needs. Nursing home cooks work in long-term care facilities. This means their positions are mostly permanent, unlike care home cooks. The chef’s position may be permanent or temporary in a care home.
Conclusion
The nursing and care home cooks cater to residents with special nutritional needs and requirements. Unlike chefs in a restaurant, they see and attend to the same group of people daily. They have set schedules for meals as well as the working shifts. Despite the similarities, differences are there too. Above are some common ones, responsibilities being the most prominent. All in all, both chefs offer excellent service to people within these settings.
Are you a chef looking for a job? Check out our job opportunities. Also, follow us on Facebok.