Second Chef/Cook (Care homes)

Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

Work Pattern: Working on a rolling rota of 3 consecutive days on and 3 consecutive days off.

Hours: 35 per week (10 hours shifts 8am to 6pm) - Days and Weekends

Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel, we have been supporting older people for over 120 years. The charity provides care home and day care services for older people, as well as grants for older people in financial difficulty.

About Friends Place, Calcot: Due to open in July 2025, Friends Place, Calcot will be more than just a care home - it will be a vibrant, welcoming community designed to provide exceptional residential, dementia, and respite care. Run by Friends of the Elderly, where we pride ourselves on delivering personalised, compassionate care in a state-of-the-art facility. Located in the heart of Calcot, Reading, our home will feature:

• A cinema for residents to enjoy movie nights and entertainment.
• A stylish salon offering professional pampering.
• A peaceful library for reading and reflection.
• A vibrant bar for socialising and relaxation.

The modern facilities are designed to create a warm and homely environment where residents feel safe, valued, and supported.

We are recruiting for a Second Chef/Cook to join the team. Joining us as a Second Chef/Cook you will be working as part of a dedicated team who will embrace a challenge delivering with a can-do attitude. On a day-to-day basis you will support the Kitchen/Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team by supervising and motivating colleagues to ensure effective team performance and help to create an atmosphere where a passion for great food and service is embedded within the team. You will help to train & develop team members to standards expected, demonstrating a positive, respectful and professional approach and plan and cost menus in keeping within agreed budgets. You will also ensure that we maintain hygienic and safe working practices in compliance with legislation & company Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Policies.

We are looking for a catering professional with a relevant food handling qualification and with good experience in a similar role who will be committed to continuous improvement, consistently seeking opportunities for learning. You will need to have the ability to use various forms of digital technology to assist with ordering supplies along with the ability to organise and be methodical with tasks. An excellent team player, you will be able to recognise and report situations where there might be a need for safeguarding. This isn’t just a job; it’s about making a difference to older people's lives every day.

Why Join Friends of the Elderly?

• Heritage of Care: Work with a trusted organisation backed by over a century of expertise.
• Non-Profit Mission: Be part of a charity that prioritises people, not profit.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Lead a cutting-edge care home designed for comfort and community.
• Professional Development: Access training and career development opportunities.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the culture and success of a brand-new care home, leaving a lasting impact on residents' lives and the community. In return for your hard work and dedication, you can look forward to a wealth of benefits:

• Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
• Generous annual leave.
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives, including an employee assistance programme.
• Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
• Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
• Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
• Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
• Health cash plans for you and your family.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Long service awards that increase with length of service.
• Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
• Uniforms are provided.
• Free DBS checks.

Safeguarding: Keeping everyone safe is one of the charity's core values, and is central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and, if they see or suspect abuse, we expect staff to report it straight away.

Criminal record checks: As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us, this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each other's differences. A charity where everyone is equal but definitely not the same. Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, all working together to create an inclusive workplace, which attracts and retains the best people. People that care and can make a difference.

We currently do not provide sponsorship but we welcome applications from those who have a right to work in the UK. Don’t delay in sending your application as we may need to close the vacancy early if we manage to appoint before the advertising closing date. We interview applicants as they apply.