Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Chelmsford (Ref: 12978)

HM Prison and Probation Service; England; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the United Kingdom seeks a Kitchen Supervisor to oversee the preparation and cooking of meals for offenders. This role plays a vital part in supporting offenders as they learn new skills and gain qualifications. You will work in a professional kitchen environment, enjoy benefits such as a Civil Service pension, and have flexible working options. The salary range is competitive, reflecting the importance of the position in contributing to offender rehabilitation.

Benefits

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrated competency within an industrial kitchen environment.
• Familiarity with health, safety, and hygiene regulations for kitchen work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the work of offenders to prepare and cook quality meals.
• Support offenders in learning new skills and achieving qualifications.

Skills

Communicating and influencing skills

Managing a quality service

Working together

Making effective decisions

Developing self and others

Education

Level 2 certificate in Food Production within Hospitality and Catering

Food Hygiene certificate at Level 2

Food Hygiene certificate at Level 3 or willingness to attain

Job description

As part of the prison's catering team, you will work in a professional industrial kitchen environment, earning a good salary, pension, and civil service benefits including apprenticeship opportunities – "earn while you learn". Unlike traditional restaurant jobs, you won't have to work late into the evening.

You will oversee the work of offenders to prepare and cook quality, nutritional meals for the entire prison. In doing so, you will help them turn their lives around – supporting them to learn new skills and work toward gaining qualifications to increase their chances of employment and reduce the likelihood that they reoffend after leaving prison.

Hours and salary: you will work a 37‑hour week. Shift patterns include hours outside of 7 am–7 pm Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays. Unsocial hours (outside the 7 am–7 pm window) are compensated with a 20 % allowance on top of basic pay. All roles can be open to part‑time and job‑share arrangements, subject to operational need; however, you must cover the full range of shifts. As a new recruit, you will start on the minimum salary.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, strengths, experience and technical skills.

Security: successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Essential qualifications

• Level 2 certificate in Food Production within Hospitality and Catering (or equivalent)
• Food Hygiene certificate at Level 2
• Food Hygiene certificate at Level 3, or willingness to work toward this qualification within an agreed timescale
• Familiarity with all current health, safety and hygiene regulations for kitchen work
• Demonstrated competency within an industrial kitchen environment
• Communicating and influencing skills
• Managing a quality service
• Working together
• Making effective decisions
• Developing self and others

Benefits

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance work‑life balance
• A culture that encourages inclusion and diversity
• Contribution to Civil Service pension scheme – 28.97 % employer contribution
• Annual leave and public holidays
• Season ticket advance

Band 3 salary range (inclusive of 20 % unsocial hours allowance): £33,746 – £35,533. In addition, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £9,776 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.