Cook/Housekeeper

Choice Care; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday entitlement - 28 days incl. BH

Sick pay entitlement

Employee Assistance Programme

Refer a friend £500 bonus

Choiceversary vouchers

Christmas bonus

Life insurance

In-house training programmes

Birthday day off

Monthly prize draws

Blue Light Card eligibility

Prescriptions costs relief

Job summary

Choice Care is recruiting a Cook to prepare and serve healthy meals for residents in our home. You will oversee weekly budgets, create balanced menus, and work with staff to ensure safety and high standards in the kitchen.

You will follow dietary needs, maintain records, and ensure hygiene. This role respects the caring ethos of Choice Care and offers access to training and development within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experience in cooking and menu planning is preferred.
• Ability to manage weekly budgets and shopping lists.

Responsibilities

• Create appropriate, exciting and well-balanced menus for residents.
• Prepare and serve meals for the home.
• Ensure special dietary needs are followed and residents’ allergens are considered.
• Maintain records and manage stock rotation.
• Ensure kitchen cleanliness and hygiene at all times.
• Complete weekly food shops within budget and safety standards.
• Model professional working methods and timekeeping.

Skills

Cooking

Budget management

Health & safety

Communication skills

Organised

Job description

Hours:37.5

Salary:12.90

Overview of the role

The role of the Cook is to prepare and serve healthy balances meals to residentsin our homes. You will oversee weekly budgets and shopping lists. On occasion you will work alongside other staff or residents in the kitchen making sure everyone’s safety is paramount.

Key duties

• Creating appropriate, exciting and well-balanced menus for residents
• Preparing and serving meals for the home
• Ensuringall special dietary needs are followed
• Familiarising yourself with residents’ allergens
• Preparing food to a high standard
• Maintaining relevant records and controllingstock rotation
• Ensuringthe kitchen is always clean and hygienic
• Completingweekly food shops whilst managing the budget and adhering to all safety standards
• Setting a professional example with all working methods, procedures, personal presentation, timekeeping and hygiene
• Maintaining health and safety at work practices at all times

Personal attributes:

• Organised and willing to learn
• Committed and enthusiastic approach
• The ability to maintainthe required quality and service standards set
• A can-do attitude
• Satisfactory written and verbal communication skills

What are the benefits?*

• Holiday entitlement - starting from 28 days inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Sick pay entitlement
• Employee Assistance Programme - comprehensive health and wellbeing support for staff
• Refer a friend scheme- enjoy a payment of £500 when you recruit a friend to Choice Care
• Choiceversary - staff receive vouchers of £75 after 5 years, £100 after 10 years and £150 after 15 years to celebrate their commitment to Choice Care
• Christmas bonus - vouchers for all staff members
• Life insurance
• Annual staff awards - this year each winner received £400 and we had over 30 winners in total
• Complex in-house training- this includes our Advanced Management Development Programme for managers in the making and our Foundation Management Development Programme for rising stars
• A paid day off on your birthday
• Free monthly prize draw - all frontline care colleagues are automatically entered into a monthly prize draw. Three winners, selected at random, receive£500 each, tax-free
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Reclaim prescription costs for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and accessfree feminine hygiene products whilst on shift
• Stream– a financial wellbeing app that enables you to: track your earnings; save withhigh-street beating interest rates; choose to access your earnings ahead of pay day withflexible pay; receive discounts with hundreds of retailers;learn with financial coaching and education, and much more

*minimum serviceperiods applicableto some benefits

Who are we?

Choice Care is one of the UK’s leading residential care providers for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions. With over 30years’ experience, we’re at the forefront of national best practice, with among thehighest CQC ratingsof any comparable organisation. We are also proud to be one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employersfor the second year in a row!

Our homes are more than just a place to live, they’re like a second family for everyone we support. Each home is a close knit community, with its own unique personality, and all the ups and downs of typical family life, built on trust and the promise of unconditional care. Our colleagues build close bonds with the people they care for, helping to create enduring, positive relationships that build confidence and self-esteem.

In every Choice Care home there’s a strong emphasis on living life to the full and having fun, with purposeful daily activities based on individual preferences and capabilities. Alongside this there areregular social events, projects, outings and holiday breaks which everyone canget involved in and express themselves through.

Where will youwork?

Orchard End is a large, detached home set in 2.5 acres of land on the banks of the River Severn, three miles from Gloucester City centre. The home supports up to 12 men and women of varied ages with moderate to severe learning disabilities and associated complex needs. It specialises in caring for those with epilepsy and autism, through the valued support of Community Learning Difficulty Teams, the local GP and district nurse team. There are two large recreational lounges, one of which is designated a quiet zone, an independence training and activities area and a sensory room. Residents are involved in caring for the extensive grounds, producing hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs. This is a lively home, and residents have busy activity schedules including arts and crafts, cooking and baking and music events. Everyone who is able is encouraged to develop their independent living skills. The home also has excellent links with local colleges. There are regular social events for family, friends and the community.

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