Job Details
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Cook
Service: Adult Social Care & Homelessness
Responsible To: Residential Care Home Manager
Job Purpose
To manage and operate a busy residential care home kitchen, providing freshly prepared, nutritious, wholesome and appetising meals for residents. To ensure the highest standards of food quality, food safety, hygiene and dietary provision are maintained at all times, working effectively with the Assistant Cook and Kitchen Assistant.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that residents’ individual dietary requirements are met, including special, therapeutic and modified diets where required, while promoting residents’ health, wellbeing and dignity.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Prepare and cook fresh, nutritious and high-quality meals for residents in accordance with agreed menus and individual dietary requirements.
Ensure meals are tasty, well presented and appropriate to the needs of older people, including residents who may be physically or mentally frail.
Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, food safety and cleanliness in accordance with HACCP procedures and relevant legislation.
Complete all required food safety, temperature, cleaning, stock and other kitchen records accurately and within required timescales.
Ensure safe storage, preparation, cooking, cooling and serving of food.
Follow all Council policies, procedures and guidelines relating to food safety, health and safety, safeguarding, confidentiality and infection prevention and control.
Identify and accommodate residents’ special dietary requirements, allergies, intolerances and other nutritional needs.
Plan menus and food requirements effectively to ensure appropriate meals and sufficient stock are available.
Order food and kitchen supplies efficiently, taking account of budgets, stock levels, quality and planned menus.
Monitor stock levels and minimise waste through effective purchasing, storage and use of ingredients.
Direct, delegate and supervise the work of the Assistant Cook and Kitchen Assistant to ensure kitchen standards are consistently maintained.
Provide guidance and support to kitchen staff and ensure duties are completed safely and effectively.
Ensure kitchen equipment, utensils and work areas are maintained in a clean, safe and hygienic condition.
Safely operate kitchen equipment, including mixers, slicers and other electrical equipment.
Report any equipment faults, hazards, food safety concerns or maintenance requirements promptly to the appropriate person.
Work effectively as part of the wider residential care team.
Communicate appropriately with residents, colleagues, managers and other professionals.
Contribute to residents’ and staff meetings where required.
Undertake relevant training and development as identified by the service.
Work flexibly and use initiative to respond to the changing needs of the service.
Maintain confidentiality and respect residents’ privacy, dignity and individual needs.
Remain alert to safeguarding concerns and report any concerns in accordance with Council safeguarding procedures.
Be aware of and comply with the Council’s responsibilities relating to the prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities of the post.
Resources, Equipment and Materials
The post holder will be required to safely use a range of commercial kitchen equipment and materials, including:
Food preparation equipment.
Mixers and slicers.
Ovens, cookers and other electrical kitchen equipment.
Cleaning products and chemicals.
Refrigeration and food storage equipment.
All equipment must be operated in accordance with relevant safety instructions and procedures.
Supervision and Management Responsibilities
The Cook will directly supervise and delegate duties to the Assistant Cook and Kitchen Assistant.
Responsibilities include:
Allocating daily kitchen duties.
Providing direction and support to kitchen staff.
Monitoring standards of food preparation, hygiene and cleanliness.
Ensuring agreed procedures and food safety standards are followed.
Supporting staff to work efficiently and safely.
Raising any performance, training or operational issues with the Residential Care Home Manager.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
Experience of food preparation, cooking and cleaning.
Experience of working in a busy kitchen or catering environment.
Basic knowledge of catering duties and food preparation.
Knowledge of food hygiene and food safety principles.
Understanding of HACCP systems.
Good understanding of health and safety.
Basic Food Hygiene qualification.
Ability to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines.
Ability to work independently and use initiative.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Commitment to maintaining high standards of hygiene, food quality and service.
Awareness of confidentiality.
Ability to follow policies, procedures and written instructions.
Willingness to undertake further training as required.
Fluency in spoken English.
Desirable
Relevant catering qualification such as NVQ/QCF or equivalent.
Experience of supervising or delegating work to kitchen staff.
Experience of working within a residential care, nursing or similar environment.
Experience of maintaining food safety and other required records.
Experience of ordering food and kitchen supplies.
Experience of menu planning and organising a busy kitchen.
Ability to speak Welsh.
Understanding of Welsh language and culture.
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
A warm and approachable personality.
Empathy, patience and sensitivity when working with older and potentially vulnerable people.
Tact and diplomacy.
A strong commitment to high standards.
Reliability and flexibility.
Good organisational skills.
A positive attitude towards teamwork.
The ability to remain calm and organised in a busy kitchen environment.
Respect for residents’ dignity, preferences and individual needs.
A good sense of humour and a caring approach.
Safeguarding and Confidentiality
The post holder has a responsibility to safeguard adults and to work in accordance with Denbighshire County Council’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
The post holder must remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking and must report any concerns promptly through the appropriate safeguarding channels.
All information relating to residents, staff and the service must be treated confidentially and handled in accordance with relevant policies and legislation.
Health and Safety
The post holder must comply with all health and safety requirements and take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.
The role may involve:
Manual handling of objects and kitchen equipment.
Working with cleaning chemicals.
Operating electrical and mechanical kitchen equipment.
Working in a hot, busy and physically demanding kitchen environment.
Wearing appropriate protective clothing and uniform supplied for the role.
Employment Checks and Requirements
All new employees are required to successfully complete the Council’s standard safer recruitment checks, including:
DBS clearance.
Two satisfactory references covering the previous three years of employment.
Evidence of essential qualifications.
Evidence of the right to work in the UK.
Person Specification
Area Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria
Education & Qualifications Basic general education; capacity to absorb and retain information; Basic Food Hygiene qualification NVQ/QCF or other relevant catering qualification
Relevant Experience Experience in food preparation, cooking and cleaning Experience in a busy kitchen; experience of delegating and supervising staff
Knowledge & Skills Knowledge of catering duties, food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety; good communication skills; teamwork; ability to prioritise and meet deadlines; ability to work independently Experience in a similar residential/care environment; experience maintaining records; ordering, planning and organising a busy kitchen
Personal Qualities Commitment to high standards; tact, diplomacy and sensitivity; high standards of hygiene —
Other Requirements Flexibility; confidentiality; empathy with Welsh language and culture; fluent spoken English Ability to speak Welsh
Overall Purpose of the Role
The Cook plays an important role in supporting the health, wellbeing and quality of life of residents by providing safe, nutritious, freshly prepared and enjoyable meals. The post holder must combine good catering skills with a caring and respectful approach, ensuring that individual dietary needs are met and that the kitchen operates safely, efficiently and to a consistently high standard.
Apply
To apply for this job email your details to recruitment@carringtonblake.com.