COMM ENT 5925 G1 - Primary Cook in Charge - Various Locations, Hamilton/Blantyre (600203)

South Lanarkshire Council; Hamilton, Blantyre; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Flexible working

Up to 33 days annual leave

Public holiday entitlement

Employee discounts

Cycle to Work Scheme

Physiotherapy

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

South Lanarkshire Council is seeking a Cook in Charge to lead a catering team across several primary schools in Hamilton and Blantyre. You will supervise Facility Assistants, plan staff rotas, train team members, and ensure a high-quality service while managing stock, quality control issues and financial tasks.

Applicants should have experience in kitchen operations, be able to work on your own initiative, and demonstrate a customer‑focussed approach.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising catering staff.
• Ability to manage stock and quality control.
• Knowledge of food safety systems and EH requirements.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of Facility Assistants (Catering) and assist with training and recruitment.
• Ensure provision of a quality catering service and raise stock/quality concerns to management.
• Undertake cash counting, balancing and recording of financial transactions.
• Prepare, cook and present a varied selection of menu items.
• Manage function work as required and coordinate transfer of food items.
• Carry out storage, preparation, cooking and service of food and maintain hygiene.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Cash handling

Food safety knowledge

Communication skills

Job description

ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by Monday 9 November 2026 at 11:55pm.

Location: Various Primary Schools within Hamilton or Blantyre area (Woodhead, St Cuthbert's, David Livingston memorial Primary Schools)

Hours: 35 hours per week

Work Pattern: Monday - Friday 7am - 2.30pm

Salary: £26,479 - £27,063 annual salary

This post is temporary until June 2027.

Community and Enterprise Resources seek to recruit a Cook in Charge to ensure the efficient operation and management of a quality catering service within a premise and to be responsible for the supervision of a team of Facilities Assistants (catering).

Your responsibilities will include the allocation of duties, work rotas, basic routine training and maximising attendance. You will also be required to carry out clerical and financial duties associated with the catering function. You will be responsible for preparing meals, ordering goods, carrying out quality audits and Environmental Health action points and complying with food safety systems.

Effective communication skills are essential along with the ability to work on your own initiative and prioritise your own workload. You should be a committed team player and be able to demonstrate previous experience of providing a customer orientated service.

Responsibilities

• Supervision of a team of Facility Assistants (Catering), including assisting with training; recruitment & selection; maximising attendance; team brief.
• To undertake and ensure the provision of a quality service and advising management of any stock or quality control issues.
• To undertake cash counting, balancing and recording of financial transactions. (CDCH3).
• To prepare, cook and present a varied selection of menu items.
• To manage function work as required and the transfer food items within and out with the kitchen for serving.
• To undertake practical tasks in relation to the storage, preparation, cooking and service of food including the cleaning of floors, walls, food production areas, equipment and utensils.

View the Primary Cook in Charge job profile

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Applications to this post are particularly encouraged from male applicants

Legislative Information

This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Scotland Act 2020.

This post is considered a Regulated Role with Children, in respect of the Disclosure Scotland Act 2020. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.

Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.

Please refer to http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.

Overseas Criminal Records Check

An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of 12 months in the past 10 years.

Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Inclusion statement

The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position.

As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile.

Benefits

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
• Up to 33 days annual leave
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Occupational sick pay
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)