Ideal School Meals provides a range of catering services to educational settings across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
We have a vacancy for a Relief School Cook to provide cover for staff absences across our school kitchen sites in Lincolnshire. Sleaford is our most central operational base, with our head office located in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
You will be required to work across our kitchen sites in Boston, Bourne, Grantham, Gainsborough and Sleaford, providing cover as required to ensure the continued delivery of high quality school meals.
As a Relief School Cook, you will support all aspects of the school kitchen operation, preparing and cooking nutritious meals for pupils. You will be involved in both the main meal and dessert production, working across hot and cold food preparation, while developing a full understanding of all aspects of our catering provision.
Your role will include food preparation, cooking, portion control, presentation, maintaining accurate kitchen records, stock rotation, and ensuring the kitchen remains clean, safe and compliant with food safety legislation.
A thorough understanding of food allergens and allergen management is essential. You must have existing experience managing allergen procedures, preparing meals for children with special dietary requirements, and ensuring all allergen controls are followed correctly.
Working hours will generally be Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 2:00pm, during school term time, although flexibility will be required depending on the kitchen being covered. Applicants must hold a full, valid UK driving licence and have access to their own transport to travel between our kitchen sites.
Are you our ideal candidate?
You will:
- Have previous experience working as a cook, ideally within a school, care or large scale catering environment.
- Have experience preparing both hot and cold food, including main meals and desserts.
- Have proven experience managing food allergens and special dietary requirements.
- Have a good understanding of food hygiene, food safety and allergen controls.
- Hold a minimum of Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification (or equivalent).
- Be organised, reliable and able to work independently.
- Have excellent communication and customer service skills.
- Be willing to learn all aspects of our catering provision and adapt to different kitchen environments.
- Be flexible and willing to travel to different kitchen sites across Lincolnshire when required.
This role requires the ability to work efficiently in a busy kitchen environment and involves some manual handling, including lifting and carrying food deliveries.
The role is term time only, with a planned start date of September.
To be considered for an initial interview, please submit your CV or a covering letter.
Ideal School Meals is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check and the receipt of two satisfactory employment references.
Pay: From £12.71 per hour
Work Location: In person
