Assistant School Chef

Positive Futures; Malvern; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Friendly team

Training & development

Meaningful impact on student wellbeing

Job summary

Positive Futures in Malvern is seeking an Assistant Cook for a brand-new specialist education setting that supports children and young people aged 5-19 with ASD and SEMH. You will prepare fresh meals, uphold hygiene standards and contribute to a welcoming dining environment for students and staff.

You will work alongside the Cook, helping with day-to-day kitchen operations and assisting with menu planning, stock control and adherence to dietary requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering environments.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety requirements.
• Clear communication and organisational abilities.
• Ability to work in a busy kitchen and handle multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and serving nutritious, home-cooked meals using fresh ingredients.
• Assisting with allergen management and dietary requirements.
• Supporting menu planning to ensure healthy, balanced meals within budget.
• Monitoring stock levels and assisting with ordering and quality control.
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene and kitchen safety.
• Building positive relationships with colleagues, suppliers and students.
• Deputising for the Cook when required.

Skills

Catering experience

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Team player

Job description

Are you passionate about preparing nutritious, home-cooked meals and making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Cook to join a brand-new specialist education setting opening in Malvern. Supporting children and young people aged 5-19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, you'll play a key role in delivering high-quality meals that help students feel supported, healthy and ready to learn.

Working alongside the Cook, you'll help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen, preparing fresh meals, maintaining excellent hygiene standards and creating a welcoming dining environment for students and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing and serving nutritious, home-cooked meals using fresh ingredients.
• Assisting with specialist dietary requirements and allergen management.
• Supporting menu planning to ensure healthy, balanced meals are provided within budget.
• Monitoring stock levels and assisting with ordering and quality control.
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen safety.
• Building positive relationships with colleagues, suppliers and students.
• Supporting the overall catering operation and deputising for the Cook when required.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience working in a catering, kitchen or food service environment.
• Understands food hygiene regulations, health and safety requirements and allergen awareness.
• Has experience preparing and serving quality meals.
• Possesses strong communication and organisational skills.
• Can work effectively in a busy environment and manage multiple tasks.
• Is flexible, proactive and enjoys working as part of a team.

Experience supporting children, young people, SEND, learning disabilities or additional needs would be advantageous but is not essential.

• Competitive hourly rate.
• Friendly and supportive team environment.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• The chance to make a genuine difference to children's education and wellbeing every day.

If you take pride in producing quality food and are looking for a rewarding role within a specialist school environment, we'd love to hear from you.