Food at Westvale House Care Home
Our dishes here are constantly evolving, and take into account the desires of those we support, integrating seasonality into everything we prepare. Food and nutrition are at the heart of the home, so it is important that residents can enjoy a balanced diet that caters to individual dietary requirements. Whether people want to try something new and exciting, or just enjoy an old favourite, there is something for everyone on our menu. Please see below for more information:
Lesley Hardy
Hi, my name is Lesley and I'm Head Chef here at Westvale House. I started working here in 2023, and absolutely love my job. My passion is cooking and baking, and trying new ideas so I love that I get to explore and create new menus. Every day is different, and exploring the likes and wants of residents' food choices makes it so exciting. There's not a request we haven't had!
Outside of work, I love to walk my dog Cooper, who is just a year old Boxer. I also like to read, going to darts and rugby tournaments, and visiting my children and grandchildren who live over in Ireland.
Dietary requirements
For residents who have difficulties swallowing, we modify the menu of the day so that the dishes are more palatable for them. To support our chefs in producing these dishes, our hospitality team and our Chef Academy organise theory and practical workshops. The chefs work with the chef trainer to prepare tasty, modified meals safely and according to IDDSI frame work. This encourages residents to eat and enjoy their food. All our chefs have been trained in IDDSI food descriptors.
Attracting top chefs
Our chefs are recruited on the basis of an interview with the regional hospitality support team and the manager of the home. Selection also involves a practical element, where potential chefs are asked to cook for and meet a panel of people living in the home. Chefs take their job extremely seriously and the annual Barchester Chef Competition sees our chefs battle it out in regional heats and then at a national final for the accolade of 'Barchester's Chef of the Year'.
