Caterer/kitchen Supervisor Catering

Ministry of Justice; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking a catering team member to work in a prison kitchen. This role involves preparing and cooking meals while overseeing offenders, helping them learn new skills. The position offers a structured work schedule and a competitive salary including a 20% unsocial hours allowance. The ideal candidate should have relevant qualifications in food production and hygiene.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Level 2 certificate in food production or equivalent.
• Food hygiene certificate Level 2 and Level 3.
• Experience in an industrial kitchen environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook quality meals for the prison.
• Oversee the work of offenders in the kitchen.
• Support offenders in learning new skills.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Food production

Health and safety regulations

Education

Level 2 certificate in food production

Food hygiene certificate Level 2

Food hygiene certificate 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.

Working 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.

Hybrid Working

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks. Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Benefits

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

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
• 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, Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working together
• Leadership
• 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
• Familiar with all current health, safety and hygiene related regulations for working in a kitchen environment; and
• Able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh. Refresher training in Food Safety (HACCP) should be completed at 3 year intervals.

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.

Annual Leave

The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non‑standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro‑rated basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case. You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work–Life Balance

HMPPS is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements.

Additional Support

• Season ticket advance available after two months' service
• Childcare vouchers—clarity on moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming vouchers
• Training: equality and diversity, dealing with challenging behaviour, suicide prevention, anti‑bullying programmes, promotion programmes, security and diversity training, individual induction programme

Eligibility and Checks

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS. All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist.

Recruitment Process

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order:

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or email moj‑recruitment‑vetting‑[e-mail])
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing‑management‑[e-mail])
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

Disability & Diversity

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long‑term condition, please watch our animated videos. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

Veterans Scheme

Make the Civil Service a great place to work for veterans initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.