At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare and serve delicious, nutritious meals while engaging service users in food activities.
- Company: Join a supportive organization dedicated to providing excellent service and care.
- Benefits: Enjoy exclusive discounts, a contributory pension plan, and a positive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by creating meals that cater to individual needs and preferences.
- Qualifications: Elementary Food Handling Certificate and previous catering experience required.
- Other info: Respect for Christian worship and membership in the PVG Scheme is essential.
Job Description
Are you passionate about preparing delicious, nutritious meals that make a real difference in people’s lives? Do you enjoy working in a warm, community-focused environment where your skills are truly valued? If so, we’d love to welcome you to our team!
We are currently seeking a Cook to join our residential care service, where you’ll play a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of our residents through thoughtful, high-quality catering.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Planning and preparing varied, balanced, and appealing meals and snacks.
- Catering for special dietary needs and personal preferences.
- Using fresh ingredients, including fruit and vegetables, to promote healthy eating.
- Encouraging resident participation in food preparation where appropriate.
- Maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety in all catering areas.
- Supporting special occasions and seasonal events with themed meals and baking.
- Supervising and helping train other catering staff.
- Participating in staff meetings and training activities.
What You’ll Bring:
- Essential: Elementary Food Handling Certificate (training provided if needed).
- Essential: Previous catering experience.
- Desirable: Knowledge of current Health & Safety legislation.
- Desirable: Basic computer literacy (for completing e-learning modules).
- A respectful and compassionate approach, aligned with our Christian ethos.
- An understanding of professional boundaries and the role of food in a residential rehabilitation environment.
Requirements:
- Membership in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.
- Willingness to undergo necessary vetting checks.
This is more than just a job it’s a chance to be part of a caring, values-driven community.If you’re ready to bring your culinary skills to a role that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.
CrossReach has been at the forefront of high quality social care for over 150 years, providing loving care to people of all ages and supporting them to live life to the full whatever their circumstances. During that time, we have worked hard to understand the needs of the people who turn to us for help and with them have been at the forefront of pioneering services which have literally changed thousands of lives for the better.
Today we are one of the largest social care providers in Scotland, with experience across a broad range of services. We are still growing, learning, and improving, thanks to the incredible people we have the privilege to support, and all those who support us. We are part of the Church of Scotland and aim to provide social care services and specialist resources in Christ’s name to further the caring work of the Church to people in challenging circumstances.
As a Christian organisation, you will need to have a respect for all aspects of Christian worship.
You will also need to become amember of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and undertake the necessary vetting checks.You will also be required to adhere to the SSSC Code of practice.We have a legal obligation to ensure that we do not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK. This permission is without exception granted by UK Visas and Immigrations. We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category.
We are committed to ensuring that we attract, retain, and develop the very best people to build a diverse and talented team and we recognise that every individual’s unique background, experience and ability contributes to our success. We aim to create an inclusive and inspiring environment where individuals feel valued and respected and where people can belong, thrive and be their very best, whoever they are.If you have any queries regarding this role or our recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment team on .uk
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
- Application Process: Please apply for this post by completing the application process on Jobtrain. You can find out more about our recruitment process here
- CV Upload: DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes.
- Deadline: Posts close at midnight on the indicated date.
- Application Assistance: For help completing an application through Jobtrain, please click here
- Accessibility : To view our recruitment accessibility statement, please click here
- Communication: Please note that most of our communication is via email; therefore, please ensure you enter your email address accurately and ensure that “Jobtrian” and “CrossReach” are marked as safe email address. However, we will at times also call you or send you a text message.
- Check Email Regularly: Please check your email regularly (including junk folders) and also your Jobtrain account for updates.
- Support Hub: For advice and support with any system issues, please contact Jobtrain Candidate Support Hub here
- Browser Recommendation: We recommend using the internet browsers "Google Chrome" or "Microsoft Edge" when using Jobtrain.
- Amendments: Once you have submitted your application form, you will be unable to make any amendments.
- Further help – If you need any help at any stage, you can contact the Recruitment Team on .uk
Cook - Part-Time employer: CrossReach
Contact Detail:
CrossReach Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cook - Part-Time
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific dietary needs and preferences of the service users. This will not only help you in menu planning but also show your commitment to providing personalized care during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have with home baking or engaging service users in food preparation. This demonstrates your ability to create a welcoming environment and encourages participation, which is key for this role.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of Health & Safety legislation related to food handling. Being able to discuss this knowledge during your conversation will show that you take hygiene and safety seriously.
✨Tip Number 4
If you're a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, make sure to mention it. This is an important requirement for the role and will demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding service users.
We think you need these skills to ace Cook - Part-Time
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Make sure to thoroughly read the job description and understand the responsibilities of a Cook. Highlight your experience in preparing nutritionally balanced meals and managing food stock in your application.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize any previous catering experience you have, especially in environments that require special dietary considerations. Mention your Elementary Food Handling Certificate and any knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.
Showcase Your Passion: Express your passion for providing excellent service and engaging with service users. Share examples of how you've involved others in food preparation or created appealing menus tailored to specific needs.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial in a kitchen environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at CrossReach
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for preparing meals and catering to diverse dietary needs. Share specific examples of how you've created appealing dishes in the past, especially those that reflect service users' preferences.
✨Highlight Your Hygiene Knowledge
Since maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety is crucial, be prepared to discuss your understanding of food safety regulations. Mention your Elementary Food Handling Certificate and any relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to cleanliness in the kitchen.
✨Discuss Menu Planning Experience
Talk about your experience in planning varied menus and how you cater to special dietary requirements. Providing examples of how you've incorporated fresh produce into meals will show your creativity and dedication to nutrition.
✨Engage with Service User Participation
Emphasize your ability to involve service users in food preparation activities. Share any past experiences where you encouraged participation and how it positively impacted the dining experience for those you served.