Kitchen Assistant - Kyloe House

Northumberland County Council; Stannington; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Northumberland County Council's Kyloe House Secure Children's Home is seeking a reliable Kitchen Assistant to join our catering team. You will help provide nutritious meals for young people and staff, ensure safe food preparation, serving, and hygiene, and support day-to-day kitchen operations.

The role involves following inventory controls, handling manual tasks, and working weekends as part of the rota. Candidates should be resilient, team oriented, and committed to safety and high service

Qualifications

• Ability to follow straightforward verbal and written instructions.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food safety.
• Ability to maintain basic records.
• Ability to work effectively within a commercial kitchen environment.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen, including food preparation and meal service.
• Assist with cleaning, stock control, and safe storage of food supplies.
• Follow inventory procedures and maintain hygiene and safety standards.
• Contribute to a positive dining experience for the young people in our care.

Skills

Reliable

Team player

Customer-focused

Safety awareness

Physical fitness

Security procedures

Education

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

NVQ Level 1/2 in Food Preparation & Cooking

Job description

Job Information

Kitchen Assistant - Kyloe House Secure Children's Home

Interview Date: 16th September 2026

Contact: [e-mail]

Salary & Benefits

Basic Salary: £16083.89 (Band 1)

Enhancements (Out-of-Hours): £2094.25 p/a

Market Force Allowance: £1297.30 p/a (Reviewed annually)

Are you looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference to young people's lives?

We are seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Kitchen Assistant to join our team within Kyloe House Secure Children's Home. Working as part of our catering service, you will help provide nutritious meals and refreshments for young people and staff, ensuring food is prepared, served, and delivered safely while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and customer care.

About the Role

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will support the day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen, assisting with food preparation, meal service, cleaning, stock control, and the safe storage of food supplies. You will play an important part in creating a positive dining experience for the young people in our care whilst contributing to a safe and supportive environment.

Kitchen staff are required to follow strict inventory control procedures, ensuring designated kitchen utensils and equipment are accounted for throughout each shift. This forms an important part of maintaining a safe and secure environment for the young people in our care.

Current Shift Pattern

• Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday
• Week 2: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Please note that this role includes regular weekend working as part of the rota.

What We're Looking For

• Is reliable, hardworking, and committed to high standards.
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Has a positive and customer-focused approach.
• Can work safely and effectively in a busy kitchen environment.
• Is able to undertake the physical aspects of catering work, including manual handling and lifting duties.
• Understands the importance of following security procedures and maintaining accurate records within a secure environment.

Essential Requirements

• Ability to follow straightforward verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain basic records.
• Ability to work effectively within a commercial kitchen environment.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food safety, and customer service.

Desirable

• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• NVQ Level 1 or 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking, or equivalent.
• Previous experience in a catering or food service environment.

Why Join Us?

Working within a Secure Children's Home offers the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team that supports the health, wellbeing, and care of vulnerable young people. Full training and support will be provided, and you'll play an important role in delivering a high-quality service every day.

Important Information

As this post is based within a Secure Children's Home, the successful applicant will be required to undergo safer recruitment pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check, employment references, and other background and security checks appropriate to working within a secure children's residential setting. Appointment will be subject to these checks being completed satisfactorily.

Additional Information

Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is 'Land of Great Opportunities', for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.

This is a unique opportunity to lead Northumberland's vision for inclusion, supporting schools and settings to develop innovative approaches that enable more children and young people with SEND to thrive in their local communities.

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

Alternative application format

• British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
• For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930