Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Wealstun (Ref: 10279)

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

Job summary

A UK prison service is seeking a catering professional to oversee meal preparation and cooking within a prison environment. The role involves supporting offenders in learning new skills to improve their employability. Candidates must have a Level 2 certificate in Food Production or be willing to obtain one. The position offers a salary between £33,746 and £35,533, along with numerous Civil Service benefits including a pension scheme and development opportunities.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Must be willing to gain relevant kitchen qualifications.
• Familiarity with health, safety, and hygiene regulations is required.
• Demonstrated competency in an industrial kitchen environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee offenders in meal preparation and cooking.
• Support offenders in gaining qualifications.
• Comply with health, safety, and hygiene regulations.

Skills

Communication

Food Hygiene

Teamwork

Education

Level 2 certificate in Food Production

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2

Job description

Overview

This is not your average catering job. It is a great chance to put your catering qualifications and skills into practice and make an impact far beyond the kitchen. As part of the prison's catering team, you'll be working in a professional industrial kitchen environment with a good salary, pension and Civil Service benefits, including apprenticeship opportunities to 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. You’ll contribute to helping them turn their lives around by supporting them to learn new skills and work towards gaining qualifications to increase their employment prospects and reduce the likelihood of reoffending when they leave prison.

Hours and salary

You will work a 37-hour week. Shift patterns include hours outside of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays. You will receive a 20% unsocial hours payment in addition to your basic pay, subject to working these hours. All roles can be open to part-time and job share arrangements subject to business need/operational requirements. However, you will still be required to undertake the full range of shifts.

As a new recruit, you will start on the minimum salary. You will need to provide an anonymised CV and answer questions which outline your past experience, as well as specific behavioural questions. The vacancy uses Success Profiles to assess Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the work of offenders in preparing and cooking meals to required standards of quality and nutrition.
• Contribute to the learning and development of offenders, supporting them to gain qualifications and improve employability.
• Work within a professional industrial kitchen environment and comply with health, safety and hygiene regulations.

Qualifications and requirements

• Level 2 certificate in Food Production within Hospitality and Catering or equivalent; Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2; or be willing to work towards gaining these qualifications within an agreed timescale. Please upload all qualifications in one file.
• Familiar with current health, safety and hygiene regulations for working in a kitchen.
• Ability to demonstrate competency within an industrial kitchen environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Refresher training in food safety (HACCP) should be completed at three-year intervals.
• Essential behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Developing Self and Others.

Salary and benefits

Band 3 salary minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance – £33,746. Band 3 salary maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance – £35,533. Alongside your salary, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £9,776 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Benefits include access to learning and development, flexible working options, inclusive culture, Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%, annual leave, public holidays and a season ticket loan.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to fairness and equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We support disability inclusion and provide schemes such as Disability Confident and Redeployment Interview for civil servants at risk of redundancy. Details are available on the Civil Service diversity and inclusion resources.

How to apply

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances, please visit the Candidate Information Page: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ