Catering Assistant. Dalton Court Care Home

Sandstone Care Group; Cockermouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A care group in the UK is seeking an enthusiastic Catering Assistant to help deliver high-quality, home-cooked meals to residents. You will assist in meal preparation, support kitchen operations, and ensure cleanliness and safety standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in a kitchen or catering role, a passion for food preparation, and strong teamwork skills. This role offers competitive hourly pay and a range of employee benefits.

Benefits

Free uniform

Free Meals*

Free DBS

Discounts on the high street*

Refer‑a‑Friend – financial scheme

Flexible pay*

Free wellbeing programme

Employee recognition scheme

Pension scheme

In‑house training

Career opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a kitchen or catering assistant role (1 year preferred, but not essential).
• Basic food hygiene certificate (or willingness to complete training).
• Strong teamwork, communication, and organisational skills.
• A passion for food preparation and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.
• Reliable, adaptable, and committed to excellent service.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Chef/Cook in preparing and serving meals tailored to residents’ dietary needs and preferences.
• Support all aspects of kitchen operations including food prep, stock control, and maintaining hygiene standards.
• Ensure the kitchen remains clean, safe, and compliant with health and safety regulations.
• Contribute to menu planning by sharing resident feedback and helping enhance the dining experience.
• Participate in ongoing training to stay current with food safety practices.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

Basic food hygiene certificate

Job description

Catering Assistant - Dalton Court Care Home

Hourly rate: £12.60 per hour
Contracted hours: 36 hours per week
Shift: 9:30am - 7pm
Rota: 4 days per week including alternate weekends

Please note we are currently unable to offer Visa Sponsorship for this vacancy.

Nestled in the charming town of Cockermouth and with stunning views of the Lake District fells, 60‑beded Dalton Court offers high‑quality, specialist Nursing and Dementia care in a peaceful and picturesque setting. We’re proud to also offer palliative and end‑of‑life care, along with flexible respite stays, tailored to support individuals and families when they need it most.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Catering Assistant to join our team and help deliver high‑quality, home‐cooked meals to our residents.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Chef/Cook in preparing and serving meals tailored to residents’ dietary needs and preferences.
• Support all aspects of kitchen operations including food prep, stock control, and maintaining hygiene standards.
• Ensure the kitchen remains clean, safe, and compliant with health and safety regulations.
• Contribute to menu planning by sharing resident feedback and helping enhance the dining experience.
• Participate in ongoing training to stay current with food safety practices.

Sandstone employees enjoy a range of benefits

• Free uniform
• Free Meals*
• Free DBS
• Discounts on the high street* – with retailers such as Asda, Costa and Argos
• Refer‑a‑Friend – financial scheme
• Flexible pay* – choose when you are paid and receive money management tips
• Free wellbeing programme – helping you look after your physical and mental health
• Employee recognition scheme – we recognise and reward great work
• Pension scheme – helping you plan for your retirement
• In‑house training – ongoing face‑to‑face training tailored to you
• Career opportunities – the chance to ‘make your mark’ and play a key role
• *Overtime is paid for working over full‑time hours. Free meals are given if working over an 8‑hour shift and are subject to terms and conditions. Discounts are accessed using our ‘Reward Me’ app. Flexible pay is available via ‘WAGESTREAM’.

Role Requirements

• Previous experience in a kitchen or catering assistant role (1 year preferred, but not essential).
• Basic food hygiene certificate (or willingness to complete training).
• Strong teamwork, communication, and organisational skills.
• A passion for food preparation and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.
• Reliable, adaptable, and committed to excellent service.

Sandstone Care Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds. We aim for diversity within each service, as we think it is important that the Social Care Workforce represents the people it serves. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds including disabled candidates, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, LGBTQ+ as well as non‑binary candidates, and those with experience of mental health.