School Cook

JR United Kingdom; King's Lynn; On-site; GBP 20,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated School Cook to join their team at a new autism school. This role involves planning and preparing nutritious meals, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. As part of a forward-thinking organization, you will benefit from a 4-Day Working Week initiative, allowing for a better work-life balance. With a strong commitment to the wellbeing of both staff and students, this position offers an exceptional reward package and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of young people with complex needs. Join a team that values your contributions and supports your professional growth.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support Services

Physical Health Checks

Discount Options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Critical Illness Cover

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave

Paid Fertility Treatment Support

Qualifications

• Experience in food preparation and catering services.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations in food handling.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare high-quality meals for the school.
• Manage kitchen staff and ensure compliance with hygiene standards.
• Monitor stock levels and manage food orders.

Skills

Food Preparation

Menu Planning

Health and Safety Compliance

Staff Management

Education

Catering Qualifications

Food Hygiene Certification

Tools

Kitchen Equipment

Job description

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How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job Title: School Cook

Salary: £20,000 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours: 30 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

We are looking for a School Cook for our New Options Autism School - Orchards Manor School, Near Kings Lynn, Downham Market.

About the role

To be responsible for the planning and preparation of high-quality food and catering service to the School. To manage and supervise all kitchen staff.

Key Task Areas and Responsibilities

1. To plan menus for the School with reference to the dietary needs of the Service Users.
2. To undertake the monitoring of stocks by date rotation, portion control and quality in accordance with the budgetary controls set.
3. To set up and clean down the kitchen areas before and after day-to-day use.
4. To ensure that necessary preparation is undertaken for the day/weekly demand/needs of the School.
5. To be observant of the need to minimise waste.
6. To provide suitable food to staff/Service Users with special dietary requirements.
7. Check daily any visitor, staff, Service User mealtime requirements.
8. To personally observe all measures relating to Health and Safety, hygiene and food hygiene requirements.
9. To report on any equipment or maintenance requirements.
10. To prepare and place food orders and to deal with any enquiries and complaints to suppliers.
11. To ensure that supplies are ordered and are properly checked on delivery and that invoices are accurate.

About us

Our New Options Autism School – Orchards Manor School is proposed to open in June 2025 and will have capacity for 72 pupils with a variety of complex needs including ASC.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions.
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks.

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits.
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad.
• Cycle to Work Schemes.
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme.
• Critical illness cover.
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.