Cook & Domestic Assistant – Children’s Home Flexible

Cook & Domestic Assistant ( Part time role) – Children’s Home

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team in one of our Children’s Homes based in South London.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher’s is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children’s homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.  We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

About the Role

The Cook & Domestic Assistant will be responsible for a range of domestic duties within the home in order to maintain the house to a high standard of cleanliness, and providing healthy, varied and well-presented meals which is representative of the service user group. To provide training in basic cooking skills to our children, providing them with opportunities to help out in the kitchen when appropriate. Encouraging them to build up their confidence and experience in basic cooking skills

Main aspects of the Role will be:

• Timely preparation of meals, including preparing an after school snack and evening meal for all residents in the home.
• To make adequate use of leftovers and basic foods, while also providing food for special dietary needs as well as providing meals which reflect different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Ensuring a nutritional balanced diet is provided.
• To help and encourage children to participate and learn about healthy eating and the presentation and preparation of meals.
• To complete opening and closing checks in the kitchen and keep the Food Safety Management book up to date on a daily basis.
• To clean designated areas of the home using appropriate equipment and products to ensure they are clean and hygienic.
• To report any defects or breakages to the Home Manager or other designated staff, and contact relevant contractors as directed by the Home Manager.
• To ensure the COSSH file is fully updates and copies of data on all cleaning products used in the home are on file.
• Budget Control and Stocktaking.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please click here

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

Applicants should have:

• Experience in a catering, cookery and domestic environment.
• A valid Food Hygiene and Food Handling Certificate.
• Knowledge of basic food hygiene and kitchen safety and willingness to attend training as required.
• Ability to prepare and cook a culturally diverse range of healthy meals.
• Good understanding of hygiene control and basic health and safety practices.
• Be familiar with operating standard cleaning and laundry appliances.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Be sensitive to the issues that lead to young people being in care.
• Be sensitive to matters relating to discrimination and demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity practice.
• Be flexible, reliable and conscientious.

In return we offer:

• Competitive salary.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme.
• Discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. For the full Job Description and Person Specification click here. CV’s will not be accepted.

It is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List.

All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.

St Christopher’s Fellowship has a minimum age requirement of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes.

For more information or assistance during the application process, please contact recruitment@stchris.org.uk

We advise to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and this opportunity might be filled before the stated closing date.