At a Glance
- Tasks: Create delicious meals and plan weekly menus for our residents.
- Company: Join Ambient Support, a charity with 25+ years of experience in care services.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, paid holidays, and a 'Refer a Friend' bonus scheme.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on residents' lives while working in a supportive community.
- Qualifications: Passion for cooking, basic nutrition knowledge, and good communication skills required.
- Other info: Enhanced DBS clearance needed; we celebrate diversity and inclusivity.
Job Description
Care Home Cook
Hazlemere Lodge Care Home
High Wycombe. HP15 7BQ
£13.00 Per Hour
Hours: 3 days a week – 9-5pm
Do you want to make a positive difference to people's lives, enabling them to gain greater independence and improve their well-being? If the answer is yes, read on!
Who are Ambient Support?
Ambient Support, a registered UK charity with over 25 years' experience in providing care and support services for older people, people with a mental health needs and people with learning disabilities.
Hazlemere Lodge is a Residential Care Home ideally situated in the heart of the community providing a home to 64 residents. We support up to 32 residents with nursing care needs and can support 16 residents living with dementia. This is a welcoming home from home environment offering regular activities and organised events. The courtyard gardens at Hazlemere Lodge are attractive and fully wheelchair accessible for residents and visitors alike
The Role of our Cook:
Are you passionate about cooking? Do you want to play a key role in our service by devising a weekly menu and cooking with our residents? This will encompass meeting all the relevant nutritional and dietary needs of the people we support, then this could be the role for you!
Skills and attributes of our Care Assistant:
* Passion for cooking as well as nutrition
* Understanding of Health and safety regulations including COSHH regulations
* Experience of HACCP risk assessments
* Knowledge on food and hygiene regulations
* Ability to supervise catering staff.
* Basic nutrition knowledge
* Ability to organise a catering environment.
* Capability of working in a position that requires manual handling tasks as a core requirement
* Must be able to demonstrate an understanding and awareness of equality & diversity
* Good communication skills in order to relate well to staff as well service users
* Basic written communication skills to leave written instructions and to follow a stock control system
* Basic administrative skills
* Ability to work flexibly, responding to the needs of the service , ensuring that the home has staff cover , 365 days of the year
Becoming part of the Ambient family brings benefits too!
- Flexible working, enabling work-life balance.
- National Living Wage paid regardless of age, including under 25s.
- Training and development
- `Refer a Friend' bonus scheme.
- Paid holiday with minimum of 28 days holiday, including BH (pro-rata for part time staff)
- Membership of Health Service Discounts scheme
- Free access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
Do you want to take your first steps towards a new rewarding career? If the answer is yes, then we'd love to hear from you.
We positively welcome diversity of background, ethnicity, skills, talents, and contributions from everyone.
We are committed to Safeguarding. An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post. References will be obtained for all roles.
REF – INDBH
Care Home Cook employer: Ambient Support
Contact Detail:
Ambient Support Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Home Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of elderly residents, especially those with dementia. Understanding how to create menus that cater to these needs will show your commitment to enhancing their well-being.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience you have in a care setting or similar environment. This can help demonstrate your ability to work effectively within a team and your understanding of the unique challenges faced in a care home.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for cooking by discussing any special dishes or menus you've created in the past. This can help convey your enthusiasm and creativity, which are essential for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your knowledge of health and safety regulations during the interview. Being able to articulate your understanding of COSHH and HACCP will demonstrate your professionalism and readiness for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Care Home Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your passion for cooking and any relevant experience in catering or care settings. Emphasise your understanding of health and safety regulations, as well as your ability to meet the nutritional needs of residents.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for the role and the impact you want to make in the lives of the residents. Mention specific skills such as menu planning, food hygiene knowledge, and your ability to work flexibly.
Showcase Relevant Skills: In your application, highlight your experience with HACCP risk assessments and any supervisory roles you've held. This will demonstrate your capability to manage a catering environment effectively.
Express Your Commitment to Diversity: Mention your understanding and awareness of equality and diversity in your application. This aligns with Ambient Support's values and shows that you are a good fit for their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ambient Support
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking during the interview. Share specific examples of dishes you enjoy preparing and how you can cater to the nutritional needs of residents.
✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Health and Safety
Be prepared to discuss health and safety regulations, including COSHH and HACCP. Highlight any relevant experience you have in maintaining food hygiene standards and conducting risk assessments.
✨Emphasise Communication Skills
Since you'll be working closely with both staff and residents, it's crucial to showcase your communication skills. Provide examples of how you've effectively communicated in previous roles, especially in a team setting.
✨Prepare for Flexibility Questions
The role requires flexibility in working hours and adapting to the needs of the service. Be ready to discuss how you've managed changing priorities in past jobs and your willingness to work various shifts.