Part-time — 20 hours over 4 days per week, with some flexibility
Role description
As a member of the kitchen team, you will be at the heart of the day centre's day-to-day operations, preparing and serving a two-course meal to our members daily using mainly fresh, seasonal ingredients. Alongside this main offering, you will also be preparing simple alternatives which account for specific dietary or health needs as required.
The safety and wellbeing of our day centre members is Staywell's top priority, and it starts in the kitchen. You will be responsible for keeping the kitchen clean, tidy, and hygienic, in compliance with food safety standards, as well as overseeing food hygiene inspections, and diligent record-keeping. This includes planning varied and nutritious menus in advance, and ensuring stock is rotated or ordered in a timely and cost-effective manner.
You will work closely alongside the rest of our friendly and close-knit Raleigh House team, liaising with them to determine the number of meals required each day to help minimise wastage, and to enable each week's menu to be published. On occasion, you may be expected to cater special events (e.g. volunteer parties) or cover absences in the kitchen team at Staywell's other day centre in Kingston, The Bradbury.
By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to create meaningful connections and enrich the lives of older individuals in Kingston borough. Together, let's make a lasting impact in our local community!
Responsibilities
- To prepare and serve a daily two course meal (plus simple alternatives), using mainly fresh, seasonal ingredients, for day centre attendees, taking into account any specific dietary and health needs and preferences.
- To adhere to health & safety protocols in the kitchen and other work environments, undertaking training where necessary and keeping up to date with policy changes.
- To maintain and clean the kitchen area and equipment / appliances in a hygienic, tidy and safe state in compliance with food safety standards and food hygiene requirements.
- To clear tables and wash up (washing up is done by hand prior to sterilising), and to ensure that tea-towels, aprons etc are laundered daily, working cooperatively with other staff and volunteers.
- To work as part of a team with the head cook daily, ensuring that work is completed efficiently and effectively.
- To assist in the planning of menus in advance to ensure variety, choice and good nutritional balance and to ensure that stocks of supplies and ingredients are maintained and regularly checked, including completing online food orders as required.
- To liaise with allocated day centre staff in order to ensure that correct numbers of meals are prepared, in order to minimise wastage.
- Occasionally to cook for special events (e.g. volunteer parties).
- To communicate effectively with members, including those living with dementia.
- To work with the Day Services team to develop ideas for improving the member experience, including being involved in promotional and fundraising events, and to participate in these as required.
- To assist with record keeping, monitoring and evaluation processes, and any administrative tasks as may be necessary (which may include answering the telephone or making calls), using our digital IT systems including Salesforce (training provided).
- To develop a broad understanding and keep up to date with the other services provided by Staywell in order to ensure day service users are offered any available services which may benefit them.
What we're looking for
- Experience working in a professional kitchen, preferably or with older
- and/or vulnerable people.
- Experience of adhering to health & safety protocols and policies of an
- organisation.
- Positive and proactive nature.
- Willingness to work as part of a team to undertake all necessary duties (with training) as required.
- A high level of reliability, punctuality and self-motivation.
- Ability to empathise with older people and treat clients with courtesy and respect.
- Ability to work on own initiative, problem solve and prioritise a range of tasks.
- Ability to work cooperatively within a team of colleagues and volunteers, led by a line manager.
- Ability to be discreet and to maintain client confidentiality.
- Ability to demonstrate commitment to the aims and values of Staywell.
- Able to work with Staywell’s digital systems to the required level of competence given appropriate support and training.
- Flexibility to work occasional extra hours if necessary, e.g. cover for other staff members on sick or annual leave.
- Possess or are working towards acquiring Essential Digital Skills.
A broad understanding of the needs of older people, including those living with dementia, is also desirable.
Qualifications
You will be required to undertake and maintain qualifications in food hygiene, manual handling and first aid, so possession of these qualifications is an advantage.
Salary & benefits
Salary: £13,793.49 — £13,237.94 base pay, plus £555.55 OLW.
Benefits include:
- 30 days’ annual leave including public holidays (pro-rata FTE 36 hours)
- Pension scheme
- Group life assurance scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
How to apply
To apply for this role, please complete our online application form on our website. Early applications are encouraged.
You can download the full job specification on our site's 'Current Vacancies'page.
For an informal chat about this opportunity, please contact Clair Jardella, Day Services Manager, on 020 8942 8256.
Please note a DBS (Criminal Records) check will be required for this role.
About Staywell
Staywell is a charity providing a range of services for older and disadvantaged people in and around the borough of Kingston upon Thames. We aim to be a leader in our field, delivering outstanding services. We are committed to increasing access to Staywell’s services, in particular by harder to reach and under-represented people living in our community.
Staywell provides centre-based services for older people with a range of needs, including people living with dementia. A successful candidate will be working at Raleigh House, our flagship daycentre in New Malden.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £13.26 per hour
Benefits:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- New Malden KT3 5EA: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- This role will see you working with and around vulnerable people, and Staywell is required to carry out additional safeguarding measures such as staff background checks. Are you willing to undergo a DBS (Criminal Records) check for this role? (Yes/No)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
