Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Leeds (Ref: 12080)

This is not your average catering job. It is a great chance to put your catering qualifications and skills into practice and make an impact far beyond the kitchen. As part of the prison's catering team, you'll be working in a professional industrial kitchen environment, with a good salary, pension and Civil Service benefits including apprenticeship opportunities 'earn while you learn'. Unlike traditional restaurant jobs, you won't have to work late into the evening. You'll oversee the work of offenders to prepare and cook quality, nutritional meals for the entire prison. Plus, you'll play your part in helping them turn their lives around - supporting them to learn new skills and work towards gaining qualifications to increase their chances of employment and reduce their likelihood of reoffending when they leave prison.

Hours and Salary

You will work a 37‑hour week and shift patterns are in place which include hours outside of 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays. You will receive a 20% unsocial hours payment in addition to your basic pay, subject to working these hours. All roles can be open to part‑time and job‑share arrangements subject to the business need/operational requirement. However, you will still be required to undertake the full range of shifts. As a new recruit, you will start on the minimum salary.

Application Process

You will need to provide an anonymised CV and answer questions which outline your past experience. You will also need to answer specific 'behavioural' questions. We will ask you how you would react in your job. This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Behaviours

• Developing self and others
• Managing a quality service
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions
• Working together

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• National of the Republic of Ireland
• National of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• National of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• National of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Qualification Requirements

• Level 2 certificate in food production within hospitality and catering or equivalent
• Food hygiene certificate at Level 2
• Familiar with all current health, safety and hygiene related regulations for working in a kitchen
• Able to demonstrate competency within an industrial kitchen environment
• Able to speak with confidence in English
• Refresher training in food safety (HACCP) should be completed at three‑year intervals

Technical Skills

Work experience 1 Work experience 2

Salary and Benefits

Band 3 salary minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance – £33,746; Band 3 salary maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance – £35,533. Alongside your salary of £33,746, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £9,776 toward your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Benefits include:

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work‑life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Season ticket advance

Security and Background Checks

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found.

Recruitment and Candidate Information

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.