Cook

Garvald West Linton; Rottingdean; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A community organization in Rottingdean is seeking a cook to prepare a healthy, biodynamic lunch menu for residents. The role involves planning meals, sourcing quality organic ingredients, and maintaining kitchen hygiene standards. Experience in the kitchen and an understanding of residents’ needs are essential. The cook will also support residents in cooking activities and manage inventory within a budget.

Qualifications

• Experience in providing varied and healthy meal options.
• Knowledge of organic and biodynamic cooking.
• Ability to manage kitchen hygiene and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare daily lunch menus for residents.
• Collaborate with gardeners to use fresh produce.
• Maintain budget and order supplies as needed.
• Ensure high standards of kitchen hygiene.

Skills

Menu planning

Cooking techniques

Hygiene standards

Budget management

Organic/biodynamic produce knowledge

Job description

Overview

The key priorities of the cook's role is to provide a biodynamic/organic healthy balanced and varied lunch menu from Monday to Friday for around 15 people, to be eaten at 1.00 pm and to support residents’ in accompanied cooking to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence.

Alongside residents and the House Manager, the cook plans menus around existing Garvald lunch ‘traditions’ e.g. meat twice per week on Wednesday and Sunday, fish on Friday etc.

Tasks

• Works closely with Garvald’s gardeners to make best use of produce from the bio-dynamic garden and collaborates on creative projects for growing and cultivating.
• Develops, fosters and supports, wherever possible, the use of high-quality produce of bio-dynamic or organic origin. Ensuring all produce is cooked using appropriate cooking methods.
• Maintains good stock rotation practices and in liaison with the House Manager, orders and purchases provisions as necessary for the running of the kitchen within a stated annual budget. This includes, as a minimum, a monthly meat order to Garvald Home Farm and regular orders from organic providers such as Green City and Organic World.
• Ensures all produce is used economically with minimum wastage and recycling is conducted appropriately.
• Supports residents in activities in the kitchen including supervised safe handling of all equipment and ensures all kitchen workers maintain a high standard of hygiene.
• Responsible for health and safety issues in the kitchen and adheres to all health and safety policies including the reporting and recording of accidents and incidents.
• Respects and adheres to the recommendations given by the Environmental Health department of the Local Authority, following any announced or unannounced inspection and to keep all Environmental Health records up to date.
• Adheres to Garvald West Linton’s Food Risk Assessment and Good Hygiene Practice guidelines for cooks and keeps this document up to date e.g. fridge and freezer temperatures, food temperatures and meal ingredients.
• Awareness of residents’ physical and emotional needs and respond to them appropriately, conducting themselves in accordance with the Codes of Practice.
• Provides updates and reports on residents for presentation at their review.
• Attends planning meetings in the house as required.
• Assists with the preparation and cooking of food for festivals throughout the year including residents’ birthdays.
• Assists (on rotation) with day service users’ Lunch Club.