Cook

NHS; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in the UK seeks a dedicated Cook to join its vibrant Catering team. The role involves preparing nutritious meals for patients and visitors, maintaining high standards of hygiene and quality. Applicants should have experience in a catering environment, especially within a clinical setting, as well as relevant food hygiene certifications. This position offers a compassionate working environment with strong commitment to patient care.

Benefits

38 days annual leave (pro rata, including Bank Holidays)

Free on-site parking

Discounted staff meals

Pension scheme (NHS pensions transferable)

Maternity/Paternity benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering environment ideally in a clinical or care setting.
• Understanding of special dietary requirements.
• A team player with great communication and interpersonal skills.
• Empathetic, flexible, and aligned with our values.
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2).
• Level 3 Food Hygiene or equivalent.
• NVQ Level 2 in Catering or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of dietary requirements, allergens, and food safety principles.
• Ability to plan menus and undertake ordering of goods.
• Able to work under pressure and prioritize workload to ensure important elements are undertaken first.
• Good verbal communication and ability to follow instructions.
• Knowledge of COSHH and HACCP procedures.
• Competence in baking and pastry.
• IT literacy for digital food safety records and general communications.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present meals with care, ensuring high standards of hygiene.
• Work with the catering department to ensure high quality and appetizing food.
• Supervise Catering Assistants and delegate tasks.
• Maintain hygiene and cleanliness of the kitchen and its equipment.
• Utilize online catering booking system for functions and meetings.
• Maintain departmental records and ensure economic use of commodities.

Job description

Are you passionate about food and making adifference? Trinity Hospice is looking for a dedicated Cook to joinour vibrant Catering team, helping to deliver delicious, nutritious meals topatients, families, staff, and visitors in a warm and welcoming hospiceenvironment.

Main duties of the job

As a vital part of our service, youll be preparing and presenting meals with care, ensuring high standards of hygiene and quality across our kitchen and food delivery areas.

What Were Looking For

• Experience in a catering environment ideally in a clinical or care setting
• Understanding of special dietary requirements
• A team player with great communication and interpersonal skills
• Empathetic, flexible, and aligned with our values

About us

Trinity Hospice is a thriving independent charity providing specialist palliative care for adults and children across the Fylde coast. Were proud to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and hold Investors in People Gold accreditation a testament to our commitment to excellence and staff wellbeing.

• 38 days annual leave (pro rata, including Bank Holidays)
• Free on-site parking
• Discounted staff meals
• Pension scheme (NHS pensions transferable)
• Maternity/Paternity benefits

Job responsibilities

OVERALL PURPOSE: To help provide catering for patients staff visitors and others.

In conjunction with other members of the Catering department work to ensure that Trinity delivers high quality appetising food that has been prepared in a safe hygienic environment according to agreed policies & procedures.

Main Duties of Post

To be accountable for the day-to-day management and effective prioritization of the Cooks workload in order to ensure timely completion of all work.

To work in accordance with the catering rota sometimes needing to cope with varied and fluctuating workloads and sometimes working under pressure.

To produce well cooked attractively presented meals of a high standard.

Ensure that good patient knowledge is maintained to meet clinical needs with appropriate and varied menu choices.

Act as a buddy for new starters in your area when requested training and supporting them as required until such time that they are able to work alone.

Supervise Catering Assistants on duty and delegate basic food preparation as appropriate commensurate with individual ability and training

Ensure the hygiene and cleanliness of the kitchen its machinery and equipment.

To utilise the online catering booking system to plan for and ensure the efficient and timely setting up and provision of catering for functions and meetings

To maintain departmental records and checklists as required

To ensure that all commodities are used economically and according to any specified procedures and that waste is kept to a minimum.

Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene as per the Personal Hygiene Policy.

Take orders for and serve meals to patients staff and visitors as required.

Maintain security of cash and stock according to agreed procedures.

Report any accidents and/or incidents and be prepared to make a written statement of the same if necessary.

Ordering of commodities according to agreed procedures.

Accept and sign for catering deliveries checking them as detailed in departmental policies.

Report any breakdown or defects in equipment or premises via the online Maintenance reporting system.

Observe safe working practices generally and in accordance with training and instruction received.

Completion of Risk Assessments as may be required within the Catering department according to instructions and training.

Completion of Hazard Analysis documentation as required.

In the absence of or as directed by the Head Chef to take charge of the day to day running of the Catering Department in conjunction with other Cooks reporting to the Facilities Manager any relevant incidents or issues with the provision of services. General Responsibilities

To undertake all mandatory training as required by Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services and participate in appropriate in-service training as and when required.

Maintaining the strict confidentiality of all information acquired especially with regard to patients and staff.

To undertake an appraisal and personal development review annually and through self-development continuously update and improve knowledge and competencies

To be a co-operative and supportive member of the Trinity staff team, ensuring that all members are aware of any issues in the post holders workload which may affect other members of the Trinity team.

To manage all volunteers utilised in your area and to develop effective working relationships providing regular feedback on their performance.

To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies and procedures and to adhere to these.

Co-operating fully in the introduction of any new technology and new methods as appropriate

To promote at all times the Hospice philosophy and uphold the Trinity core values.

Any other duties that may be reasonably requested.

Person Specification

Additional Requirements

• Commitment to Trinity Hospices values: Caring, Adaptable, Responsible, Excellence, Socially Engaged.
• Willingness to undertake training and development as required.

Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2)
• Level 3 Food Hygiene or equivalent
• NVQ Level 2 in Catering or equivalent

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of dietary requirements, allergens, and food safety principles
• Ability to plan menus and undertaken ordering of goods
• Able to work under pressure and prioritise workload to ensure important elements are undertaken first
• Good verbal communication and ability to follow instructions
• Knowledge of COSHH and HACCP procedures
• Competence in baking and pastry
• IT literacy for digital food safety records and general communications

Personal Attribiutes

• Kind compassionate and respectful of patients needs
• Team player with a positive, can-do attitude
• Flexible and reliable, able to work shifts including weekends
• Smart tidy and professional appearance
• Understanding of the role of food in palliative care
• Experience working with volunteers

Experience

• Minimum 2 years experience in a busy catering environment
• Experience preparing meals from scratch using fresh ingredients
• Experience in a hospice care home or healthcare setting
• Experience with special diets and texture-modified meals
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior staff or catering assistants

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.