Chefs - H.M Prison Service - Birmingham & surrounding area

Prison Chefs - Birmingham & surrounding areas

If you are already prison vetted & have completed this within the last 5 years we can offer immediate start date.

Shifts: all day shifts 7:15 am till 4:30 pm across Monday to Friday and will include weekends.

Contract type: temporary ongoing to support sickness, absence & general recruitment.

Hourly rate: £18.50 per hour Mon to Fri, Saturdays time & half, Sundays & Bank holiday double time up to £37 per hour.

There is a separate Prison Vetting alongside Blue Arrow compliance that must be completed, this is on top of Blue Arrow registration. However, if you are already prison vetted & have completed this within the last 5 years we can offer immediate work.

Have you ever wanted to really make a difference to people’s lives, or really wanted to help support people with upskilling their skill sets, ready for their new ventures in life? If so, we believe this fantastic role may be just what you’re looking for.

You will be required to help and support with any sickness, and long-term cover, also to support with the increase demand. The ideal candidate will be working within busy kitchens cooking and producing fresh nutritious food daily for the residents, whilst adhering to dietary requirements. You will be required to supervise prisoners of all categories, with food preparation, and cooking of the meals following health and food safety on site.

Requirements and skills:

• Previous experience as a chef up to supervisory level
• Previous experience working within a Prison is preferred
• For an immediate start ideally, you would have prison checks completed, or willing to go through one with the prison directly, this can take some time to be returned - don’t worry we can offer work whilst you are waiting.
• Flexibility in shift patterns including weekends - must be able to cover 37 hours per week across 4 to 5 shifts a week
• Great communication and teamwork skills
• Level 2 food hygiene certificate dated within the last 3 years
• Happy to conduct extra Prison checks, due to the environment of the role
• Happy to work in a prison, with prison catering staff onsite.
• An in date Enhanced DBS covering child or adult or both workforce DATED WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ideally on the new updated service programme. (we do have the Facilities to put you through one at a cost)
• Ability to work under pressure
• Due to certain locations a full UK driving license is required along with own access to a vehicle

The working environment:

As you can imagine you are required to work on site in the Prison restaurants and you will be working with residents in the kitchen as part of the work party along with Civilian Catering Staff. On your first day there will be a full induction, along with key training once this is completed there will then be radio training on offer too. Majority of the food will be cooked in bulk and batch cooked, very similar to contract catering environments.

Main Duties:

• Work within a team to ensure jobs are completed for the day
• Putting away deliveries.
• Possibility of food orders, depending on the role you are placed into i.e. head chef/chef manager.
• Assist with the preparation of food & other areas of the kitchen including pot washing, and basic cookery skills
• Adhering to all relevant health and safety requirements
• Cooking nutritious food within requirements
• Ensure a clean as you go policy is always operated
• Possibility of serving food and stocking up trolleys.
• Training and supervising Prison residents on site

Working Hours:

As you will be working within a prison the hours can vary every shift, once you start your assignment with the prison you will receive a rota, and the hours will be 8 am till 6:45 pm, you must be able to commit within these hours, and work weekends as and when required. Weekly average is between 37 hours per week, some even offer an earlier finish.

Why Apply?

• Great pay rates
• Ongoing work, offering full time hours
• Long term position whilst the site recruits
• Dedicated consultant
• Great opportunity for a foot in the door with a fantastic company
• Holiday accrual
• Company pension scheme
• Even though a lot of your roles will be on a temporary basis, these can quite easily lead to permanent work for the right candidates.

Click APPLY to submit your CV. Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.