Hostel/Care Home - Chef

Hostel Chef

19.32 per hour

Guidant Global are recruiting for a Hostel Chef on behalf of Brighton and Hove County Council to cater for up to 24 residents.

The hostel offers accommodation to local, single homeless people with complex needs, including those with alcohol or drug problems and people with mental health problems. The service helps people to prepare for independence by offering a short-term place to stay, training and a safe space for those who want to address their substance use.

You will be required to work adhoc shifts in order to cover holidays, sickness, and other short notice requirements. This role would suit someone with a permanent job role looking to pick up some extra hours.

You will be responsible for providing a hot meal for lunchtime and preparing a cold meal ready for serving at teatime to a client base of up to 24 residents in a mixed gender homeless shelter. In addition, you must be able to make fresh soups and cakes for the residents. The menu will be pre-arranged and you will not be required to place food orders to suppliers. In preparing the food, you must be mindful of the health and nutritional value, and the wellbeing of people at risk of food insecurity.

This role requires management of the kitchen including keeping a note of ingredients used, waste management, maintaining high cleaning and food safety standards, and, working collaboratively with venue staff. Please note that you will be working alone in the kitchen, with no KP or CA to assist.

It is essential that you are outgoing and personable, as well as decisive and confident in your communications and people management.

Main Responsibilities:

• Independent preparation and production of nutritionally balanced meals for up to 24 people, catering to allergies and dietary requirements
• Use portion control and pre-plating of food to ensure all service users have a meal
• Food labelling and dating
• Ensuring that the kitchen area and equipment are cleaned to the highest standard in line with cleaning procedures and in working order at all times, raising repairs or faults in a timely manner
• Ensure and maintain health and safety and food safety standards, in line with BHCC policies and EHO guidelines, adhering to necessary Food Safety and Hygiene paperwork
• Daily completion of kitchen hygiene, cleaning, food temperatures, fridge/freezer temperatures, meal and safety logs
• Communicating effectively with venue staff to ensure smooth running of the service and attending staff briefings when required
• Getting feedback from services users about the quality of the food (where appropriate or possible). Sharing feedback with staff members and working collaboratively to adapt menu suitability
• Promote sustainable practices in the kitchen
• Follow safeguarding processes in a timely and prompt manner
• Be a positive brand ambassador and ensure that volunteers and service users have a positive experience

Essential:

• 6 months + of experience preparing and cooking healthy, nutritional and balanced meals in a professional catering kitchen or busy community kitchen, including in a hostel service
• Demonstrable experience catering for significant numbers (up to 30) within clearly defined service schedules and mealtimes
• Experience coordinating and managing food orders and deliveries in the kitchen, as well as stock rotation to minimise food waste
• Valid Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate demonstrating an understanding and working knowledge of all current Health and Safety legislation and Food Hygiene legislation

An enhanced DBS certificate

• Experience keeping accurate kitchen records such as HACCP documentation, temperatures, stock levels, meals and cleaning schedules
• Good communicator, strong interpersonal skills and friendly demeanour. Able to communicate and liaise with diverse staff and volunteers
• Excellent organisational and time management skills ensuring timely and efficient food service
• Committed to supporting BHCC's vision, values and ethos; A working knowledge of and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as it applies to a supportive service and in the workplace
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements
• Reliability as service users depend on the food you prepare
• Working alongside hostel staff and management, assisting where required

Desirable:

• Experience of working with people experiencing food insecurity and/or vulnerable adults
• Trained in adult safeguarding (or willing to undergo training once joined)
• NVQ Level 2 in Food Safety Knowledge of a vulnerable client group or people who persistently refuse support
• Experience of managing individuals who can have challenging behaviours
• Working in a role that requires clear boundaries and professional distance

Skills and Competencies:

Good communicator - both verbally and on paper, actively listens, communicates in a clear and direct manner and engages with others to further understanding

Participant observer - can observe self and others without being compelled to act before reflecting; Can think, wait, talk to others before acting

Mediation skills - can understand both sides of a disagreement and resolve conflict or argument

Ability to tolerate stress and recognise personal limits

Capacity to work reflectively and be aware of your responses to others

Having no preconceptions, ensuring a fresh perspective, objectively appraising each situation and person

Compassion: Showing concern and compassion for others and a strong desire to act in order to change the situation

An optimistic belief that positive change is always possible.

A commitment to reflecting on what went well, what did not and how things could be done differently

Key Result Areas of the Hostel:

Improvement of employment opportunities, motivation and work readiness of people experiencing homelessness

Improvement in the self-esteem and self-confidence of people who experience homelessness

Contribute to a more tolerant local community so people who experience homelessness will feel less stigmatised

Ready to serve up something great?

Apply now by sending your CV