12973 - Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Littlehey

Ministry of Justice; Huntingdonshire; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Catering Officer to manage meal preparation in a prison setting. You will oversee offenders, assisting them in developing skills while providing quality nutritional meals. Ideal candidates should have a Level 2 certificate in food production, a food hygiene certificate, and be familiar with kitchen health protocols. A 37-hour work week is expected, with shifts outside of regular hours and additional unsocial hours payments. A rewarding opportunity to make an impact in rehabilitation.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension and Civil Service benefits

Apprenticeship opportunities

Qualifications

• Must hold a Level 2 food production qualification or equivalent.
• Food hygiene certificate at Level 2 is required.
• Must be familiar with health and safety regulations for kitchens.

Responsibilities

• Oversee offenders in preparing and cooking meals for the prison.
• Assist offenders in developing new skills and qualifications.
• Work in a professional industrial kitchen environment.

Skills

Familiarity with health, safety, and hygiene regulations

Demonstrated competency in an industrial kitchen environment

Confidence in spoken English

Education

Level 2 certificate in food production or equivalent

Food hygiene certificate at Level 2

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 3 salary minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £33,746

Band 3 salary maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £35,533

Qualifications and experience

• Level 2 certificate in food production within hospitality and catering or equivalent
• Food hygiene certificate at Level 2

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 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.