Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Cook and serve nutritious meals in schools and care homes across Staffordshire.
- Company: Join Blue Arrow, a leading catering service dedicated to quality and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible shifts, weekly pay, and a dedicated consultant for support.
- Why this job: Make a difference by providing hot meals to those in need while enjoying a great work-life balance.
- Qualifications: Must have a Level 2 food hygiene certificate and at least 2 years of chef experience.
- Other info: Enhanced DBS required; we can help you obtain one if needed.
School & Care home chefs – Staffordshire
Remember to check your CV before applying Also, ensure you read through all the requirements related to this role.
Location: Staffordshire Stoke on trent, Congleton, Leek, Kidsgrove Tunstall, Nantwich, Crewe, Stoke on trent, Buxton & surrounding areas
Contract type: Temporary – some contracts may lead to permanent after successful period.
Hourly rate/Salary: £16p/h to £20p/h weekly pay
We are currently looking to recruit several Enhanced DBS Cooks and chefs of all levels to support schools, nurseries, care homes, and retirement villages in North Staffordshire. You will be working for several contract catering environments based in the following areas:
- Staffordshire
- Congleton
- Leek
- Telford
- Shrewsbury
- Kidsgrove
- Tunstall
- Nantwich
- Crewe
- Stoke on trent
- Buxton & surrounding areas
To be able to work within this environment you must have enhanced DBS covering adult, child, dated within the last 12 months or on the update service. If you don\’t have this we do have the facilities to process one for you at a cost.
Imagine working as a chef/cook, having a great salary and getting paid for every hour worked, along with having the flexibility of when you work for a better work life balance. If you can imagine this, then we can offer you shifts to support this!
Why Apply?
- Great pay rates
- Weekly pay
- Your very own Blue Arrow app for you accept shifts on the go, put on your availability plus much more
- PAYE – holiday accrual, and Blue Arrow process your national insurance and ensure you are paid every Friday
- Dedicated consultant
- Great work life balance
- You choose the hours to work flexible shifts
- Chance to gain more hours around current jobs and commitments.
- Mixtures of shifts.
- Different working environments – every day is different
The Commute:
As we cover a large number of locations across Staffordshire your commute will vary. If you have a car and are flexible with locations, great, if you\’re limited to public transport, we\’ll only send you to places that have public transport links and provide you with all the information you will need to get there.
Type of Ehanced DBS chefs & cooks we are looking for:
- Chefs
- Cooks
- Second in command cooks & chefs
- Catering Managers
- Chef Manager
The working environment:
You will be providing hot, delicious, and nutritious food to vulnerable adults and children, your role is extremely important in ensuring every person has a hot meal for the day you work no matter where the place of work is.
The main environments you will be working in is schools and care homes working within contract catering and will be required to cook specific items i.e textured meals for all residents and children, working from the IDDSI framework. You will also be involved in some of the serving and may meet some patients and children.
Working Hours:
You will be working a mixture of hours however majority of our school and nursery clients work from Monday to Friday working from around 7/8am until 2/3pm. Our care homes will require Monday to Friday work but also weekends coverage as they are open 7 days a week, hours will range from 7am till 6pm.
Requirements and skills:
- You will have extraordinary attention to detail
- You will have knowledge of stock management and ordering position dependant.
- You will enjoy working with different people
- Have the ability to work within various environments
- Have experience working with the IDDSI framework cooking and producing texture dietary meals
- You will have the skills to manage small teams
- You will be able to work under pressure and work with a variety of teams
- You will enjoy being flexible and managing your own diary
- You will be qualified within professional cookery to City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2 or equivalent
- Level 2 food hygiene certificate within last 3 years and up to date allergens certificates.
- You will have at least 2 years background working as a chef
- Experience working within schools and care homes as a chef or a cook.
- You will be Senior Chef De Partie level or above
- You will have your own chef whites and knives
An in date Enhanced DBS DATED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ideally on the new updated service programme, without this we cannot work you in Schools or Care homes. (we do have the Facilities to put you through one at a cost if needed, this would benefit you in offering more work.)
So if you think this is just what you\’re looking for then CLICK APPLY TODAY one of our dedicated chef consultants will be back in touch to discuss the next steps.
Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.
School & Care home chefs - Staffordshire employer: Blue Arrow - Derby
Contact Detail:
Blue Arrow - Derby Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land School & Care home chefs - Staffordshire
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to highlight your experience working in schools and care homes during your conversations with our consultants. This specific background is crucial for the role, and showcasing it can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarize yourself with the IDDSI framework and be prepared to discuss how you've implemented it in your previous roles. This knowledge is essential for cooking textured meals, which is a key part of the job.
✨Tip Number 3
Be flexible with your availability. Since the shifts can vary greatly, showing that you can work different hours, including weekends, will make you a more attractive candidate for us.
✨Tip Number 4
If you don’t have an Enhanced DBS yet, consider getting one through us. Mentioning this during your application process can demonstrate your commitment to meeting the requirements for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace School & Care home chefs - Staffordshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to emphasize your experience working in schools and care homes, as well as your familiarity with the IDDSI framework. Mention specific roles you've held and the types of meals you've prepared.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Clearly list your qualifications, including your professional cookery certifications and food hygiene certificates. If you have an Enhanced DBS, mention it prominently, especially if it's dated within the last 12 months.
Demonstrate Flexibility: Since the role requires flexibility in working hours and locations, express your willingness to adapt your schedule and commute. Highlight any previous experiences where you successfully managed varying shifts.
Personalize Your Application: Tailor your application to reflect your passion for providing nutritious meals to vulnerable populations. Share a brief story or motivation that illustrates why this role is important to you.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Arrow - Derby
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and working in a school or care home environment. Share specific examples of dishes you love to prepare and how you ensure they are nutritious and appealing.
✨Highlight Your Experience with IDDSI Framework
Since the role involves preparing textured meals, be ready to discuss your experience with the IDDSI framework. Provide examples of how you've adapted meals for different dietary needs in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
Emphasize your ability to work well within a team. Share experiences where you successfully collaborated with others in a kitchen setting, especially in high-pressure situations.
✨Prepare Questions About Flexibility
Since the job offers flexible shifts, come prepared with questions about scheduling and how the team manages shift changes. This shows your interest in balancing work with other commitments.
