At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare and cook delicious meals for our residents at the weekend.
- Company: Join A2Dominion, a caring housing association making a difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, pension contributions, and health benefits.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on the lives of elderly residents while honing your cooking skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering and a passion for food preparation required.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a supportive team environment await you.
The predicted salary is between 6853 - 7540 £ per year.
Salary: £6,853.60 - £7,540.00
Type: Permanent
Working hours: 10 hours per week across Saturday & Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Chimney Court, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4EN
DBS Level: Enhanced
About A2Dominion: We are a UK housing association committed to a new vision – providing homes people love to live in. With over 38,000 homes in management across London and southern England, we provide a wide range of homes for social, affordable, and private rent, specialist services, as well as homes for sale and shared ownership.
Role Overview: We’re searching for a Weekend Cook/Chef to join our friendly and hard-working team at A2Dominion. As a Weekend Cook/Chef at Chimney Court, you will be responsible for leading and delivering a first class catering service at the weekends for the retirement housing scheme, which accounts for 57 self-contained apartments for residents aged 55+.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead our service to prepare & cook meals for our busy restaurant service
- Provide high quality meals catering for our residents and guests - taking responsibility for particular dietary and cultural needs as per resident food profiles
- Complete administrative documentation, recording meals sold and reporting resident feedback to the Chef Manager
- Ensure compliance with hygiene and health and safety legislation/guidelines including the Registered Homes Act 1984
- Take responsibility for own time management, working with colleagues and maintain the standards set by the Catering Manager
As part of your initial training and start to life working with us, we may require you to attend some face to face sessions that will be held on a weekday, we will discuss this further throughout your application.
More about you:
- Previous catering and hands on food preparation is essential
- Ideally you will have a Catering/Cooking qualification and/or experience working in a Care and Support environment, or cooking experience for large volumes of people
- Ability to engage with elderly vulnerable customers and their families
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Comfortable with completing online training – by no means do you need to be an IT expert, we will support you throughout!
Why A2Dominion?
As an employee of A2Dominion, we want you to feel rewarded and have a choice of flexible benefits, salary exchange benefits, and rewards and discounts that work for you, wherever you are in your life. We offer a wide range of staff benefits. For this role, these include:
- 25 days’ holiday pro rata (Plus Bank Holidays)
- Up to 8% contributory pension
- In addition, all permanent and fixed-term employees receive a generous annual allowance of up to £300 to use towards health and lifestyle benefits for both you and your family.
Diversity & Inclusion:
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, and we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the process - just contact our Resourcing Team at resourcing@a2dominion.co.uk
We know some people hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. If that’s you, we encourage you to apply if your skills and experience align – please get in touch with us to talk it through. At A2Dominion, we value diversity, embrace flexibility, and are a family-friendly employer. Everyone belongs here. Join us and help make a lasting difference in the lives of our customers.
This Vacancy is being managed by Hollie Furness – Hollie.Furness@a2dominion.co.uk
Weekend Cook in Reading employer: A2Dominion
Contact Detail:
A2Dominion Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Weekend Cook in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on A2Dominion. Understand their mission and values, especially how they focus on providing homes people love. This will help you connect your experience as a cook to their vision.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills! Since you'll be preparing meals for residents with specific dietary needs, think about how you can showcase your ability to cater to diverse tastes. Maybe whip up a few dishes that highlight your culinary flair and be ready to discuss them.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your personality! When you meet the team, let your passion for cooking and caring for others shine through. Engage with them, share your experiences, and demonstrate how you can contribute to the friendly atmosphere at Chimney Court.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, if you have any questions or need support, our team is just an email away. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
We think you need these skills to ace Weekend Cook in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight any previous catering or cooking experience you've got. We want to see how your skills can bring joy to our residents at Chimney Court!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take a moment to tailor your cover letter and CV to the Weekend Cook role. Mention how you can cater to dietary needs and engage with our lovely elderly residents.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your written skills shine through without any fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at A2Dominion
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your culinary skills and knowledge. Be prepared to discuss your experience with different dietary needs and how you can cater to the residents' preferences. This shows that you understand the importance of providing high-quality meals.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be engaging with elderly residents, practice how you communicate your ideas clearly and compassionately. Think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully interacted with customers or worked in a team setting.
✨Understand the Role's Responsibilities
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities listed in the job description. Be ready to explain how your previous experience aligns with these tasks, especially around meal preparation, hygiene compliance, and time management.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some questions to ask during the interview. This could be about the team dynamics, the types of meals typically served, or how feedback is gathered from residents. It shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.