Assistant Cook (SCP 11)

Job Category : Catering / Hospitality
Location : Claygate Centre for the Community, Elmbridge Borough Council, Surrey
Hours Per Week : 18.75
Start Date : Immediate Start
Salary: £10.70
Start Time : 09:30
End Time : 13:15

We are looking for a Temporary Assistant Cook to join our Community Support Services team, to provide meals at the Claygate for the Community, located in Claygate, and support the delivery of our Meals on Wheels service.
The role requires an individual who has a friendly and caring attitude, and who can be a team player, offer experience of working within a kitchen and demonstrate an understanding of food safety and hygiene regulations.

Main purpose of role:
• To assist the Centre Cook in the preparation, cooking and serving of food for the Meals-on-Wheels Service and to visitors at the Centre.
• To be responsible for the organisation of the kitchen in the Centre Cook’s absence.
Specific duties and responsibilities:
• To assist in the preparation of meals under the direction of the Centre’s Cook.
• To cook and prepare foods for the Centre’s Community Café / Tea-bar.
• To assemble Meals-on-Wheels delivery containers and undertake their packing, checking numbers, dietary and other requirements.
• Where necessary to ensure all cooking equipment is cleaned after use.
• To ensure that all areas relating to the kitchen are kept to a high standard of cleanliness, including the staff toilet.
• Cook meals including fresh food ingredients from fresh meats to other produce where sauces, soups, gravies and custards need preparing.
• Assist in planning menus in liaison with the Centre Cook.
• Issue instructions to any volunteers who assist in the Centre’s Kitchen.
• Carry out the duties of the Centre Cook in cases when the Cook is on holiday or sick leave.
• To ensure that the standards of safety and hygiene are always met, adhering to food safety regulations.
• To assist generally with activities of older people as when directed by the Centre Manager.

Essential requirements of job holder:

• Good standard of education.
• Experience of working within a commercial kitchen environment.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of working with volunteers.
• Ability to understand the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations.
• Experience of catering for large numbers of people and an understanding of dietary requirements.
• Ability to work on one’s own, and preparedness to carry out additional work to cover other members of the Centre’s kitchen team.
• Ability to communicate with team colleagues and residents.
• Displays professional manner with members of the public.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Displays a friendly and caring attitude.
• A willingness to apply for a basic DBS disclosure which is required of this position.