Assistant Cook

Part-time Cook / Kitchen Team Member (0.77 FTE)

£24,796 – £25,583 FTE

All about the Role

We are looking to recruit an energetic, enthusiastic part time cook/kitchen team member to work in our commercial kitchen at Clare Lodge Secure Children's Home. The position will require the successful candidate to follow pre planned menus for lunch and dinner. A minimum of 25+ covers per sitting for residents and their care workers. The menu is produced in accordance with the Homes Policy of consultation with residents and ensuring a healthy, varied diet for young people aged between 12 and 17 years.

Duties would include cooking a minimum of once a week (cook days) and assisting in day-to-day kitchen operations on the non-cook days (kitchen team member). The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene and NVQ or equivalent in Catering

• Ability & flexible to undertake additional hours / shift swaps to cover for colleagues planned annual leave / able to respond to cover sickness.

• Able to work on their and own and as part of a team.

• Cook experience and have a general all-round catering background.

• Ability to take responsibility for the kitchen environment and the kitchen assistant on Cook days.

• Take responsibility for stock levels and ordering within PCC guidelines.

• Receive and check deliveries, reporting and taking action to limit the impact of discrepancies.

• Operate kitchen equipment, waste management, health and safety, hygiene & Food Allergen Regs.

The successful candidate will undertake training in relevant policies and procedures regarding the safety and security requirements for safe operation within a secure environment

Duties would include cooking a minimum of once a week (cook days) and assisting in day-to-day kitchen operations on the non-cook days (kitchen team member).

Working Hours: 28.5 hours over 2-week rota, on a 6-week fixed rota pattern.

Week 1 - 31.5 hours

Week 2 - 25.5 hours

Cook Days – Weekdays 8 a.m. - 5 p. m., Saturday 08.30 - 5 p.m., Sunday 9 – 4 p.m.

Kitchen Team Member – Weekdays 9.30 - 06.30 p.m., Saturday 08.30 - 5 p.m., Sunday 10.00 - 5 p.m.

Days will be worked on a rota system and include weekends and bank holidays as per shift pattern. An example of shift patterns can be found below.

All about Clare Lodge

Clare Lodge is a leading national provider of all female "welfare" placements (Children Act 1989. Section 25) for young people in the UK. The service is independent, not contracted to the Youth Justice Board and accepts referrals in respect of young people aged 10 to 17 years who are in need of care, programmes of intervention and protection. Typically, those placed have extensive histories of abuse and exploitation, poor attachments, and low self-esteem. Many of the young people have a range of health / mental needs and exhibit complex behaviours which may include running away, self-harm, exploitation, psycho-sexual difficulties, issues concerning drug and alcohol misuse, eating disorders, aggression and other challenging behaviours.

All about You

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene and NVQ or equivalent in Catering
• Ability & flexible to undertake additional hours / shift swaps to cover for colleagues planned annual leave / able to respond to cover sickness.
• Able to work on their and own and as part of a team.
• Cook experience and have a general all-round catering background.
• Ability to take responsibility for the kitchen environment and the kitchen assistant on Cook days.
• Take responsibility for stock levels and ordering within PCC guidelines.
• Receive and check deliveries, reporting and taking action to limit the impact of discrepancies.
• Operate kitchen equipment, waste management, health and safety, hygiene & Food Allergen Regs.

The successful candidate will undertake training in relevant policies and procedures regarding the safety, security requirements for safe operation within a secure environment.

All about our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme…

• Access to a range of benefits via Vivup, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

All about our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected] we will work with you to meet your needs.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.