Anchor Homes, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care homes, is set to launch the UK’s first catering course specifically designed for caterers working in the care industry.

From 31 March this year Anchor Homes chefs will no longer take the Food Preparation NVQ but instead follow Anchor’s own course called Cater Craft.

Anchor began developing the programme in October of 2005 in response to the need to train care chefs to cater for residents’ varying nutritional needs. Anchor recognised that although the Food Preparation NVQ assessed to a high standard of food preparation, it did not fully equip its chefs with the skills needed for care home catering.

The new BTEC will consist of 220 training hours. In contrast to the NVQ, which is part written and part practical, the Cater Craft course is entirely practical. The BTEC is a similar level of qualification to the NVQ but offers more specialised content. Assessors will grade the learners through observation of their cooking in each section of the course.

Feedback from Anchor residents has shaped the content of the course. Paul Flood, Catering Services Development Manager, said: “This new qualification is the first of its kind and is designed purely with the residents in mind. It trains our chefs to meet the dietary requirements of older people.”

Jane Ashcroft, Director of Care Services added: “At Anchor we recognise the importance of good quality food to everybody in our care homes. Eating is a social event, particularly in our homes and we want all our residents to enjoy that experience.”

Anchor's Chef of the Year

The skills of eight Anchor chefs were put to the test this week at Anchor’s Chef of the Year final, held at Huddersfield University on Thursday 9 February. Entrants from Anchor Homes across the country had to design a nutritionally balanced three-course meal prepared from fresh ingredients that fell within budget. Maria Mourelle, chef manager of Birchlands care home in Englefield Green, Surrey, was named Anchor Homes Chef of the Year after she won over a panel of Anchor staff and residents with her chosen menu.

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