Cook

Role Description - Cook

Business Area/Function: Catering

Salary Scale: £8.00-8.50 per hour

Location: Guardian Care Centre, Stoke on Trent

Hours: 40 per week - 5 days out of 7over a rota system

Reports To:  Head Chef & Care Director

Responsible for:  Kitchen Assistants

Role Purpose:

In association with the Head Chef, to manage the provision of the kitchen and all meal preparation, including specialised diets with particular emphasis on the planning, preparing and cooking of meals.    To ensure operational compliance in line with statutory regulations such as health and safety, food hygiene, CQC and HACCP  principles.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities and Outputs:

• Ensure the effective and efficient planning, preparation and delivery of all aspects of food preparation and cooking, taking into account dietary and nutritional requirements within the Centre
• Actively involved in the preparation, cooking and serving of food and beverages as well as supervising and motivating the kitchen assistants
• Ability to adapt the changing needs of the people who use the service and able to keep up to date with the medication side effects that residents may expeience in order that their diets can be amended accordingly

• Managing the kitchen supplies, you will also be responsible for checking and maintaining kitchen equipment

• Assist the Head Chef with the monitoring of the catering budget, taking into account the cost per cover as well as ensuring best value and quality of the ingredients

• Research, develop and create varied and interesting menus which take account of any dietary requirements

• Ensure stock takes and audits and all relevant documentation is kept up to date, complete and stored to standard

• Work to high standards of HACCP principles, food hygiene, CQC, health and safety and environmental health, ensuring compliance and good working practices

• Maintain a clean and tidy appearance with high personal hygiene standards

• Support the Head Chef in induction and refresher training

• Maintain good communication between departments, residents, relatives, staff and suppliers ensuring quality customer service

• Provide cover in the absence of the Head Chef

• Contribute to any other projects as requested by the Senior Management Team

Experience, Knowledge, Key Skills and Qualifications:

Essential

Experience:

• Experience of preparing and cooking high quality meals gained within a large professional kitchen environment
• Meal planning and preparation within budgetary requirements
• Experience of leading and managing a small team of Kitchen Assistants
• Special dietary requirements including pureed food preparation

Knowledge and Key Skills:

• Full understanding of statutory compliance including health and safety, HACCP principles, food hygiene, CQC and environmental health.

• Ability to use specialist industrial kitchen equipment
• Must have excellent leadership skills in order to ensure the catering team remain motivated
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to show empathy and warmth towards residents
• Excellent organisational skills with enthusiasm and energy
• Ability to made decisions and prioritise workload

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Catering

• Numeracy and Literacy to GCSE or equivalent standard

Desirable:

Experience:

• Experience of working within the care sector

Knowledge and Key Skills:

• An awareness and understanding of the the complex needs of our residents

Additional Requirements

• A commitment to adhere to all company policies and procedures
• Ability to work flexibly in accordance with the role
• Ongoing DBS clearance