10484 - Prison Catering: Caterer - Caterer/Kitchen Supervisor - HMP Whatton

Ministry of Justice; Rushcliffe; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government service provider in Rushcliffe seeks a Catering Officer to manage kitchen operations in a prison. You will oversee the preparation of nutritious meals while supporting offenders to learn skills and gain qualifications. Strong leadership and culinary qualifications are essential for this role, with a salary starting at £39,930 inclusive of allowances and a supportive environment focused on rehabilitation.

Benefits

Pension

Civil Service benefits

Apprenticeship opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrate competence in an industrial kitchen environment.
• Familiar with health, safety, and hygiene regulations.
• Demonstrate leadership skills and confidence in English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee offenders in preparing and cooking meals.
• Support offenders in learning new skills.
• Ensure quality and nutritional standards in meals.

Skills

Team leadership

Competency in industrial kitchen

Strong communication in English

Education

Level 2 certificate in food production

Food hygiene certificate Level 2

Food hygiene certificate Level 3

City and Guilds 7061/7062 or NVQ Level 3

Job description

This is not your average catering job. It is a great chance to put your catering qualifications and skills into practice and make an impact far beyond the kitchen.

As part of the prison’s catering team, you’ll be working in a professional industrial kitchen environment, with a good salary, pension and Civil Service benefits including apprenticeship opportunities ‘earn while you learn’. Unlike traditional restaurant jobs, you won’t have to work late into the evening.

You’ll oversee the work of offenders to prepare and cook quality, nutritional meals for the entire prison. Plus, you’ll play your part in helping them turn their lives around - supporting them to learn new skills and work towards gaining qualifications to increase their chances of employment and reduce their likelihood of reoffending when they leave prison.

Hours and Salary

You will work a 37 hour week and shift patterns are in place which include hours outside of 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays. You will receive a 20% unsocial hours payment in addition to your basic pay, subject to working these hours.

All roles can be open to part-time and job share arrangements subject to the business need/operational requirement. However, you will still be required to undertake the full range of shifts. As a new recruit, you will start on the minimum salary.

Band 4 salary minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £39,930
Band 4 salary maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £39,930

Qualifications and Experience

• Level 2 certificate in food production within hospitality and catering or equivalent
• Food hygiene certificate at Level 2
• Food hygiene certificate Level 3 (intermediate level)
• Working towards a relevant vocational qualification at Level 3 or already hold formal qualifications in catering e.g. City and Guilds 7061/7062 or NVQ Level 3

In addition, you must be:

• Familiar with all current health, safety and hygiene related regulations for working in a kitchen
• Able to demonstrate competency within an industrial kitchen environment.
• Able to demonstrate team leadership experience
• Able to speak with confidence in English

Please note refresher training in food safety (HACCP) should be completed at three year intervals.

Tips for Applying

You will need to provide an anonymised CV and answer questions which outline your past experience.

You will also need to answer specific ‘behavioural’ questions. We will ask you how you would react in your job.