Cook - HMP Dovegate

Serco Limited; South Staffordshire; On-site; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service provider is seeking a dedicated Chef to join the catering team at HMP Dovegate, a facility in South Staffordshire. The position involves preparing nutritious meals, supervising kitchen operations, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Ideal candidates will hold relevant culinary qualifications and have experience in a large-scale catering environment. This role offers a stable schedule and a comprehensive corporate benefits package, including discounts, free meals, and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Employee benefits package

Free on-site parking

Use of on-site gym

Free staff meals

Opportunities for additional qualifications

Qualifications

• Experience in catering within a large operation or custodial environment.
• Able to work long shifts physically.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food and supervise prisoners, ensuring a safe work environment.
• Maintain security and food safety during kitchen operations.
• Document compliance with food hygiene regulations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or equivalent NVQ in Food preparation and Production

Food Safety - Level 3

HACCP - Level 3

Allergen Control within Catering - Level 2

Job description

Serco - HMP Dovegate

Permanent / Full Time

£30,051 per annum + Excellent Corporate Benefits Package

We're recruiting for a Chef to join our catering team at HMP Dovegate - a Category B adult male facility near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire where we care for up to 1160male adult prisoners over the age of 21 serving a range of sentences including trial, remand, those awaiting sentence and convicted men serving long and short term sentences

This exciting opportunity is well suited to an experienced Chef who is looking for a role with no split shifts and enjoys working as part of a committed team. You will assist the Catering Manager in the delivery of catering services to the establishment and comply with all relevant Health & Safety and Food Safety Regulations, legislation and guidelines. You will prepare varied and healthy menus for residents to include special diets, special events and religious events, whilst also keeping abreast of trends and developments in the catering industry such as menus and consumer tastes.

Other key activities will include:

• Preparing food according to the menu & supervising prisoners, ensuring a safe and secure working environment.
• Ensuring the security and food safety of all foodstuffs, equipment and infrastructure is maintained during delivery, storage and distribution within the kitchen area.
• Recording and documenting all relevant paperwork to comply with food hygiene regulations, Health & Safety, HACCP and company policies.
• Performing random quality checks on service points before, during and after mealtimes.

What you'll need to do the role

To carry out this role successfully, you must have good interpersonal & communication skills as well as the ability to think quickly and react to different situations. You will have good, working experience in catering within a large operation or a similar custodial environment and be physically capable of working long shifts. It is desirable that you have the following or willing to complete required training:

• City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or equivalent NVQ or similar in Food preparation and Production
• Food Safety - Level 3
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) - Level 3
• Awareness of Allergen Control within Catering - Level 2

Typically, you will work 4 days per week 6:30 - 17:30pm and 1 weekend per month on a rotational basis.

If you enjoy engaging with people and have strong interpersonal skills, this is a fantastic opportunity to work in a people-centred environment, ensuring a positive experience as part of the rehabilitation of prisoners.

Why Serco

• A place you can make an impact- The nature of our business means you will do interesting work that matters - delivering essential services that touch people's lives.

• A place you can count on- Our diverse UK-wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You'll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.

• A place for you- We are a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed within a supportive and safe culture.

What we offer

• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Serco Benefits package - discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment, online shopping, mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• Serco Sharesave - where empliyees can own part of the company and invest in their future.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities to gain additional qualifications
• Free on site parking
• Use of on site gym
• Free staff meals
• Blue light discounts