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- Tasks: Prepare nutritious meals for elderly residents while working in a supportive team.
- Company: Join a leading provider of care services across London and Essex, dedicated to enhancing lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy day hours, competitive pay, health perks, training opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while enjoying a fulfilling and flexible work culture.
- Qualifications: Must have food processing qualifications, H&S & Food Hygiene certification, and relevant catering experience.
- Other info: This role requires a DBS check; sponsorship is not available.
Are you an experienced Chef tired of working unsociable hours? Our client is a specialist provider of learning disability, dementia, elderly care, end of life and mental health services across London and Essex. They are currently recruiting for a Chef for their residential home (65 bed) in the Colchester, Essex area. They take pride in preparing appealing, nutritious, varied and well-balanced meals, which centre around their residents’ preferences, requests and special dietary requirements.
They are looking for someone with good communication skills to work flexibly as part of a small team in order to meet the needs of the service. You should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the home environment for our residents and engage with residents sensitively and with dignity. The job entails working 37.5 hours per week including rostered weekends and bank holidays. Salary is £13.50 to £14 per hour plus a good range of benefits including preferential dental/health contributory rates, training & development opportunities, sick leave/maternity & paternity, reward opportunities including refer a friend and pension.
About you:
- Have a minimum level 1 food processing qualification
- Level 3 H&S & Food Hygiene certified
- Experience of managing a successful catering operation
- Manual handling
- First Aid
- Health and safety, including environmental health and fire safety requirements in a health or care home setting
- SOVA
- GDPR
- Infection Control and understanding of COSHH
- An understanding of the specialist needs of the client
This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure. Sponsorship is not available at this time. For further information apply today or contact Kim at ENS Recruitment, Westcliff.
Chef employer: ENS Recruitment
Contact Detail:
ENS Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs and preferences of elderly residents. Understanding how to cater to these requirements will not only enhance your application but also show that you are genuinely interested in providing quality care.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in managing a catering operation, especially in a care home setting. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully catered to diverse dietary needs and maintained high standards of food hygiene.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your communication skills by preparing to engage in a conversation about how you would interact with residents. Think of ways to show empathy and understanding, as this is crucial in a care environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company’s values and mission regarding elderly care. Being able to align your personal values with theirs during discussions can significantly strengthen your candidacy and show that you are a good fit for their team.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in catering, especially in a care home setting. Emphasise your qualifications, such as food processing and health & safety certifications, to align with the job requirements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and caring for residents. Mention your ability to create nutritious meals tailored to individual dietary needs and your experience working in a team environment.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since good communication is essential for this role, provide examples in your application of how you've effectively communicated with colleagues and residents in previous positions.
Showcase Relevant Certifications: List all relevant certifications clearly, such as Level 3 Health & Safety and Food Hygiene. This will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards in food preparation and safety.
How to prepare for a job interview at ENS Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your cooking techniques and how you create appealing, nutritious meals. You might even want to share examples of menus you've designed that cater to specific dietary needs.
✨Demonstrate Your Communication Skills
Since the role involves working closely with residents and a small team, highlight your ability to communicate effectively. Share experiences where you’ve successfully engaged with others, especially in a care setting.
✨Understand the Home Environment
Familiarise yourself with the unique needs of elderly residents. Be ready to discuss how you would adapt your cooking and interactions to ensure a dignified and respectful environment for them.
✨Highlight Your Qualifications
Make sure to mention your food processing qualifications and any relevant certifications like Health & Safety and Food Hygiene. This will show that you are well-prepared to meet the standards required in a care home setting.
