Household Catering Lead

Belong; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced DBS check

Pension Scheme

Subsidised meals in our Bistros

Blue Light Card scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Belong is seeking a Household Catering Lead to oversee daily meal preparation for residents, ensuring nutritious, flavoursome and well-presented dishes across our village. You will coach junior staff and maintain high kitchen standards.

You will supervise in day shifts, work with older residents with diverse dietary needs, and uphold safety and hygiene policies. A Level 2/3 catering qualification is desirable, and DBS checks are part of the process.

Qualifications

• Passion for food and delivering high standards for residents.
• Able to supervise, train and develop colleagues.
• Comfortable working with older people with a range of care and dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve high-quality meals meeting residents' dietary needs and preferences.
• Follow health, safety and food hygiene requirements in line with regulations and Belong policies.
• Ensure HACCP records are completed accurately and on time.
• Support prevention of malnutrition and dehydration by following dietitian guidance.
• Monitor standards across household kitchens for quality and consistency.
• Coach and support colleagues to develop skills and maintain high standards.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Food safety

Hygiene

Dysphagia

Catering qualification

Education

Level 2 or Level 3 catering qualification

Job description

Household Catering Lead

About the Role

As Household Catering Lead, you will report to and work closely with the Bistro and Catering Manager (BCM) to meet the dietary needs and preferences of residents and customers across the Village.

This is a 'hands on' supervisory role and as such you will be able to prepare and serve high-quality, home-cooked meals while supporting and coaching less-experienced colleagues to maintain consistently high standards.

Mealtimes are an important part of the day for our residents. You will help ensure every meal is wholesome, nutritious, flavoursome and attractively presented. Working within our household care settings, you will bring a friendly and welcoming approach that helps create an enjoyable dining experience for every resident.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve high-quality meals that meet residents' dietary needs and preferences.
• Follow all health, safety and food hygiene requirements in line with relevant regulations and Belong policies and procedures.
• Ensure household HACCP records are completed accurately and on time.
• Support the prevention of malnutrition and dehydration by following best-practice guidance and advice from dietitians and other healthcare professionals.
• Monitor standards across household kitchens, ensuring quality, consistency and compliance.
• Coach, encourage and support colleagues to develop their skills and maintain excellent standards.
• Help create a warm, positive and enjoyable dining experience for residents.

About You

You will have a genuine passion for food and a commitment to delivering excellent standards for our residents. You will be confident in supervising, training and developing colleagues, and comfortable working with older people who have a range of care and dietary needs.

You will also bring:

• A warm, welcoming personality and a helpful, can-do attitude.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• An understanding of food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance.
• Knowledge of dysphagia and texture-modified diets, or a willingness to undertake full training.
• A Level 2 or Level 3 catering qualification is desirable.

If you are a passionate catering professional with a warm personality and a genuine desire to support others, we would love to hear from you.

Working Arrangements

Hours: 30 hours per week

Working pattern: Day shifts, including every other weekend

Salary: £14.45

• Cost of DBS Check
• Comprehensive 4 day classroom based induction and further shadow shifts (paid)
• Ongoing training and development
• Internal career progression opportunities
• Pension Scheme
• Access to Blue Light Card scheme
• Subsidised meals in our Bistros
• Marvellous Mealtime on shift
• Casual dress
• Free DBS check*
• Access to an Early Pay Release Scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Occupational Health support
• Colleague recognition events; our monthly ACE awards and our annual Champions Event
• Enhanced Colleague Referral Scheme

We welcome applications from eligible applicants; it is with regret that we do not have the facility to sponsor overseas staff.

As part of our recruitment process you will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check. Their code of conduct can be found on the following link that you can copy and post to your web browser if you wish to read:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-code-of-practice