At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare and serve delicious meals for our residents, ensuring their dietary needs are met.
- Company: Join Gowrie House Care Home, a supportive environment for 60 residents in beautiful Kirkcaldy.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension, onsite parking, uniform, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by crafting meals that bring joy and comfort to our residents.
- Qualifications: Culinary qualifications or experience, team player, and basic food hygiene knowledge required.
- Other info: Full-time role with 35-40 hours per week; perfect for passionate cooks looking to impact lives.
The predicted salary is between 20000 - 26000 £ per year.
Our care home, located in the heart of Kirkcaldy, a coastal town on the Forth Estuary in East Central Scotland, offers comprehensive Residential, Nursing, Dementia & Respite care, providing a supportive and caring environment for 60 residents.
We’re looking for a skilled Cook to join our care home team, where you’ll play a key role in ensuring our residents enjoy high-quality, well-balanced meals every day.
Why This Role MattersAs Cook, you’ll do more than just cook; you’ll be crafting meals that provide comfort, nourishment, and joy to our residents. Your expertise in the kitchen will help create a welcoming atmosphere where food is something everyone looks forward to.
What You’ll Do- Meal Preparation: Prepare, cook, and serve both hot and cold meals, ensuring they meet the dietary needs and preferences of our residents.
- Menu Planning: Work closely with the Head Chef to plan menus that provide a balanced, nutritious diet, making the most of fresh, available ingredients.
- Kitchen Management: Take charge of day-to-day kitchen management, organizing and controlling food production within budget while maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of food supplies and monitor freezer and fridge temperatures to ensure food safety and quality.
- Stock Management: Ensure proper stock rotation, assist in ordering supplies, check deliveries, and conduct stock valuations as needed.
- Health & Safety: Uphold statutory Health & Safety standards in the kitchen and dining areas, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment.
- Cleaning & Maintenance: Ensure all crockery and equipment are cleaned and stored properly and oversee the overall cleanliness of the kitchen and dining areas.
- Culinary Qualifications: City & Guilds 706 – 1 & 2, or equivalent qualification (achieved or working towards).
- Team Player: Ability to work effectively within a team to achieve common goals.
- Food Hygiene: Basic Food Hygiene Certificate, ensuring you understand and implement best practices in food safety.
- Communication Skills: Good communication skills to liaise with team members and understand residents’ dietary needs.
- Initiative: Ability to work independently and take the lead in the kitchen, when the Head Chef isn’t available.
- Specialized Food Preparation: Experience in preparing food for the specific needs of our residents.
- Care Environment Experience: Experience working in a care environment is beneficial but not essential.
If you’re passionate about cooking and want to make a real difference in the lives of our residents, we’d love to have you join our team. Bring your culinary skills to our kitchen, where your meals will nourish, delight, and contribute to the well-being of those in our care.
Contract Details- Pension
- Onsite Parking
- Paid PVG
- Uniform Provided
- 5.6 Weeks Annual Leave (Based on a full-time contract)
Contact Detail:
TieTalent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of residents in care homes. Understanding how to cater for various dietary restrictions and preferences will set you apart as a candidate who truly cares about the well-being of the residents.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your ability to work as part of a team by highlighting any previous experience in collaborative kitchen environments. Emphasising your teamwork skills can demonstrate that you're ready to contribute positively to our kitchen dynamic.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared to discuss your knowledge of food hygiene practices during the interview. Having a solid understanding of health and safety standards is crucial in a care home setting, and it shows that you take food safety seriously.
✨Tip Number 4
If you have experience in menu planning or managing kitchen operations, be ready to share specific examples. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the Cook role effectively and show that you can contribute to creating enjoyable meal experiences for residents.
We think you need these skills to ace Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant culinary qualifications and any experience in a care environment. Emphasise your skills in meal preparation, menu planning, and kitchen management.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and how you can contribute to the well-being of residents. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to create nutritious meals tailored to dietary needs.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Clearly list your culinary qualifications, such as City & Guilds 706 or equivalent, and any food hygiene certifications. This will show that you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Showcase Teamwork and Communication Skills: In your application, provide examples of how you've worked effectively within a team and communicated with others to meet dietary needs. This is crucial in a care home setting.
How to prepare for a job interview at TieTalent
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your cooking techniques and any special dishes you excel at. Bring examples of how you've catered to specific dietary needs in the past, as this will demonstrate your ability to meet the residents' requirements.
✨Understand the Care Environment
Familiarise yourself with the unique challenges of cooking in a care home setting. Highlight any previous experience you have in similar environments, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to creating a comforting atmosphere for residents.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
As a Cook, you'll need to work closely with the Head Chef and other team members. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the kitchen before, showcasing your ability to communicate effectively and support your colleagues.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Food Safety
Make sure to mention your understanding of food hygiene practices and health and safety regulations. Being able to discuss how you maintain cleanliness and safety in the kitchen will show that you're serious about providing a safe dining experience for residents.