Kitchen Assistant / Relief Chef in York

Rawcliffe Manor are looking for a Relief Chef/KA to join their kitchen team. The Home provides both residential and dementia care for long and short stays, including facilities such as an in‑house bar, a full beauty salon and hairdressing room, and a cinema. To build our kitchen team, we are currently recruiting for a passionate Relief Chef/KA to work within the kitchen team (this would include some weekend work).

Essential Qualities

• Flexible, caring and compassionate.
• Positive, self‑motivated and organised.
• Willing to undertake any training necessary to develop skills and competency relevant to the role.
• Sensitive to the needs of others.
• An active team player and must be able to work on own initiative.
• Possess good communication skills with colleagues, residents and visitors.

Relief Chef Responsibilities

• Working alongside the Head Chef to prepare and cook a balanced, nutritious diet within a controlled hygienic environment, adhering to the menu planner or special requests of the residents.
• Planning, preparing and presenting meals to top restaurant quality.
• Ensuring the kitchen is run and equipment maintained to an outstanding level, providing the kind of service the residents expect and deserve.
• Controlling systems of food allocation to minimise wastage, working with the Head Chef to keep within allocated budgets.
• Deputising for the Head Chef when required and providing cover and support.
• Monitoring stocks and purchases, thereby allocating the quantities of materials.
• Maintaining a balanced diet and varied menus.
• Ensuring that all kitchen staff clean the kitchen after use, including self and, at the end of each shift, leave the kitchen in a clean and hygienic state.
• Ensuring that Food Hygiene and Health and Safety standards are met.

Kitchen Assistant Responsibilities

• Assisting in kitchen tasks connected with the preparation, cooking, presentation and serving of meals and beverages whilst ensuring the highest quality of service as required by the residents and management of the home.
• Maintaining a good standard of hygiene and cleanliness throughout the kitchen and dining area, as set by the Health and Hygiene Authorities and the management of the home.
• Carrying out general kitchen and dining room duties, such as setting tables, washing up and serving meals to residents.
• Reporting and recording in an appropriate manner any information considered important.
• Servery duties including basic meal preparation (toasts, porridge, eggs, sandwiches, etc.), serving meals, tidying and cleaning tables.
• At times taking meals to resident rooms and tidying away once finished.
• Being required to carry out the tea round – taking the tea/coffee trolley round the floor room to room, asking residents what they would like.

Person Specification

• Food hygiene and safety qualified.
• Good understanding of HACCP.
• Experience of a care home environment desirable; confidence to engage with residents to create a varied and appetising menu.
• Current knowledge in catering for modified diets and allergy awareness.
• Comfortable working with fresh seasonal produce and good knowledge of nutrition.
• A warm, approachable manner and an understanding that the residents’ wellbeing is the top priority.

Benefits

• Competitive rates of pay.
• Great work‑life balance; working days with alternate weekends.
• Free uniform.
• Fully comprehensive training and development support from our in‑house trainer.
• Career progression.
• Free enhanced DBS check.
• Bonus for working Christmas.
• Staff recognition awards.
• Rewards app.
• Health scheme.
• Working with a fantastic team of friendly, supportive, like‑minded individuals.

Yorkare Homes is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.