Penlee is looking for a passionate, reliable, and hardworking Cook to join our residential care home team.
As our Cook, you will play an important role in the daily lives of our residents by preparing nutritious, appetising, and wholesome home-cooked meals. Food is an important part of residents' wellbeing and enjoyment, and we are looking for someone who takes pride in preparing meals to a high standard while ensuring individual dietary needs, allergies, preferences, and care plans are followed at all times.
You will also be responsible for managing kitchen stock effectively, controlling costs, reducing food waste, maintaining excellent food hygiene standards, and ensuring the kitchen remains clean, organised, and safe.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and cook nutritious, varied, and appetising home-cooked meals.
- Prepare breakfast, lunch, tea, desserts, snacks, and special occasion meals.
- Follow residents' care plans, dietary requirements, allergies, intolerances, and food preferences.
- Prepare modified, soft, fortified, and texture-modified diets where required.
- Work closely with care staff to ensure residents' nutritional needs are met.
- Monitor and report concerns regarding poor appetite, dehydration, weight loss, or changes in eating habits.
- Order food and kitchen supplies from approved supermarkets and suppliers, up to three times per week when required.
- Maintain effective stock control and use a first-in, first-out (FIFO) stock rotation system.
- Minimise food waste and avoid unnecessary over-ordering.
- Check deliveries promptly and ensure food is stored safely and efficiently.
- Ensure opened food is covered, sealed, labelled, and dated.
- Maintain accurate fridge, freezer, and food probe temperature records.
- Complete food hygiene, cleaning, and kitchen documentation accurately.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness throughout the kitchen.
- Follow food hygiene, infection control, health and safety, and COSHH procedures.
- Ensure knives, cleaning chemicals, hot equipment, and other hazardous items are stored safely.
- Ensure the kitchen door is securely closed when the kitchen is unattended to prevent unauthorised access.
- Report equipment faults, maintenance issues, food safety concerns, or hazards to Management.
- Communicate relevant updates through the staff WhatsApp group and other agreed communication systems.
- Work closely with care staff, Management, suppliers, and the wider team.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience working as a Cook, ideally in a care home, hospital, school, restaurant, or similar setting.
- Takes pride in preparing high-quality, home-cooked food.
- Understands the importance of allergies and special dietary requirements.
- Has good knowledge of food hygiene and safe food handling.
- Is organised and able to manage stock effectively.
- Understands the importance of controlling costs and minimising food waste.
- Is reliable, punctual, and able to work independently.
- Has excellent attention to detail.
- Is caring, patient, and respectful towards older people.
- Works well as part of a wider care home team.
- Is willing to complete required training and follow all Penlee policies and procedures.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference to residents' daily lives.
- A supportive and friendly working environment.
- The opportunity to be creative with home-cooked menus and special occasions.
- Training and development opportunities.
- The opportunity to become an important member of the Penlee team.
If you are passionate about food, take pride in your work, and want to make a positive difference to the lives of older people, we would love to hear from you.
Penlee is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of residents and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appropriate checks and references will be required as part of the recruitment
Pay: £13.10 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
Work Location: In person
