Chef coach marks 15 years at home

A chef coach based at a Gloucester care home has been given a long service award, having marked 15 years there.

Peter Liptak joined MHA Brockworth in 2006 as a kitchen assistant and quickly moved up the ladder to become a cook, chef, head chef, catering manager, hospitality manager and a regional chef coach in 2010, supporting other MHA homes.

He was the first catering employee who was directly employed by MHA and now travels around homes in various regions to help train chefs. He has also used his time at MHA to complete his ILM Level 5 qualification in operational management.

He says: “I did have some catering experience prior to joining MHA Brockworth House and it helped me to gain a good understanding in my role. Despite this, I have a lot to learn about the health sector catering, which MHA greatly supported me with.

“I expect food quality at a high standard and I found here at MHA that is something that is highly recognised and promoted. I design and serve well balanced, nutritional menus which strictly contain quality homemade food using only the freshest ingredients and that's the policy I want other homes where I teach to adopt.

“I have had full support in my development and I am very grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. I spend a lot of time visiting and supporting homes in the South East and Midlands area and I am very impressed by the chefs' passion to learn, as well as sharing knowledge and exchanging personal recipes which further enhance our ever-growing and evolving menu database.

“This not only contributes to the greater residents' meal satisfaction and dining experience but also the staff are getting greater recognition, self-respect - an element of fun and work enjoyment - which I find invaluable."

He says last year he won an MHS Oscar award in the Learning and Achievement category, which he describes as a "very proud moment".

“Right now, in my spare time, I am concentrating on a few enhancement projects here at our site at Brockworth House, building and project managing a resident focused nature path with scenic pond and a stunning view of Cooper’s Hill (the famous Gloucester cheese rolling hill) which will directly benefit our residents, staff and friends of the care home," he says, "so I am very excited with what the future holds for both me and MHA."

You may also be interested in…