Cook

East Sussex County Council; Bexhill-on-Sea, Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

East Sussex County Council is seeking a Cook for our children’s residential homes to prepare fresh, nutritious meals for young people with diverse dietary needs. You’ll plan menus, manage orders and deliveries, and help maintain a clean, safe kitchen within budget.

You will follow strict allergy controls and food safety procedures, supporting flexible working and a team focused on creating homely mealtimes and positive experiences for looked-after children.

Qualifications

• RQF Level 3 Cooking or Chef qualification or willingness to complete Senior Chef Production Cooking or Chef de Partie (Level 3) apprenticeship which will be funded by the Council.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills, knowledge of stock control and ordering to a budget.
• Ability to plan and produce menus of good quality, nutritious and homely meals.
• Creativity and flair for good presentation of food.

Responsibilities

• Plan menus and prepare meals.
• Cook meals meeting dietary needs and allergies.
• Manage food orders and check deliveries.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen within budget.
• Ensure meals are nutritious and visually appealing.

Skills

Menu planning

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Stock control

Meal preparation

Creativity

Education

RQF Level 3 Cooking or Chef qualification

Senior Chef Production Cooking or Chef de Partie apprenticeship (Level 3)

Job description

Job Description

Love cooking? Make it count for something more, get involved today!

At our children’s residential homes, food is about more than just mealtimes. It’s about creating a sense of comfort, routine and home for children and young people aged 7–19. As a Cook, you’ll play an important part in their day, preparing fresh, healthy and nutritious meals that meet their individual needs and dietary requirements.

You’ll be cooking for children with disabilities, some of whom may have specific dietary needs and or severe allergies, so it’s important to follow strict allergy controls and food safety procedures to make sure every meal is safe and suitable for each child.

As our cook you will take pride in planning menus, preparing and cooking meals, managing food orders and checking deliveries to make sure the kitchen runs smoothly. You’ll also help maintain a clean, safe and welcoming kitchen, making sure food is prepared to a high standard and within budget.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who enjoys cooking and understands how much a good meal can mean. Your food can help create positive mealtime experiences, bring people together and make the home feel that little bit more special.

The people we are looking for in this vital position will have:

• RQF Level 3 Cooking or Chef qualification or willingness to complete Senior Chef Production Cooking or Chef de Partie (Level 3) apprenticeship which will be funded by the Council
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills, knowledge of stock control and ordering to a budget.
• Ability to plan and produce menus of good quality, nutritious and homely meals.
• Creativity and flair for good presentation of food.

Interviews will take place in person in either Bexhill on Sea or Eastbourne within two weeks of closing date. Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

• We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For flexible working, choose East Sussex!

East Sussex is a very good employer. You're able to work flexibly around childcare and caring responsibilities and that's really helpful.

A workforce for the community, from the community

We Warmly Welcome Applications From All Sections Of The Community.

We But Particularly Encourage Those From Group That Are Underrepresented In Our Current Workforce.

Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, those who are disabled, men and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

We are working towards recruiting a workforce that reflects our community because we recognise the unique skills, experience and perspective that each individual brings.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record.

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

If you require sponsorship to work in the UK please let the hiring manager know this in your application so we can check eligibility for sponsorship for the role. For further information please go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.

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