Kitchen Assistant

Childbase Partnership; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Cambridge is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to prepare meals for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The role involves maintaining hygiene standards and collaborating with the Nursery Cook. Applicants should have professional catering experience and a passion for healthy meals. The position offers a permanent contract with varied shifts from Monday to Friday.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Work-life balance incentives

Childcare discount

Wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals.
• Knowledge of hygiene standards and practices essential.
• Ability to ensure children's well-being through dietary needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
• Maintain 5-star hygiene standards in the kitchen.
• Collaborate with the Nursery Cook on meal preparation.

Skills

Professional catering experience

Knowledge of COSHH

Understanding allergens

Manual handling

Ability to promote healthy eating

Job description

Overview

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Kitchen Assistant | Preparing meals for up to 120 children aged 6 weeks-5 years old.
Location: West Cambridge Day Nursery | Cambridge | CB3 0FZ.
Contract: Permanent | 37.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.
Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 08:00-18:00.
Salary: £24,570 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.60 per hour.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 43-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays*.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Childcare discount: 75% discount (or 40% grandparent discount) on your fees at any Childbase nursery, from day one.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

• You are passionate about preparing wholesome, healthy meals: You have professional catering experience which will enable you to contribute towards the preparation of a range of meals from a set-menu, using fresh ingredients.
• You are diligent: Your knowledge of COSHH, allergens and manual handling alongside your experience working in a professional kitchen environment will ensure you effectively contribute towards maintaining 5-star hygiene standards within the kitchen.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure the well-being and dietary needs of every child are met.
• You are collaborative: In partnership with the Nursery Cook, you will promote healthy eating, build respectful relationships with colleagues, children and parents and resume full responsibility for all food preparation and cooking tasks in the absence of the cook.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.

*This nursery is open on the May bank holidays; if Monday is a standard working day for you, you will be required to work as normal on these dates. Paid time off will be awarded in lieu for you to take on another day.