At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare healthy meals for adults with specific dietary needs and supervise kitchen staff.
- Company: Join Gloucestershire House, a supportive residential service for disabled adults in Cheltenham.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible hours, and perks like Wagestream and Blue Light discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by providing nutritious meals in a caring environment while developing your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in a kitchen and relevant food hygiene qualifications are essential.
- Other info: Night and weekend shifts offer additional pay enhancements; flexibility is key!
We are looking for an experienced Cook to join our team at Gloucestershire House, a residential service supporting up to 30 disabled adults in Cheltenham. The successful candidate will deliver a healthy, nutritionally balanced menu tailored to specific dietary needs, within an agreed budget. Responsibilities include supervising kitchen staff, maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety, and providing catering for functions and events.
Requirements:
- Experience in a kitchen environment.
- Recognised catering qualification (Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate and HACCP accreditation, or Level 4 Food Hygiene Certificate / willingness to work towards).
- Flexibility to work rostered hours.
Additional information:
- Night shift enhancement of £1.50/hour (8pm-7am, Monday-Sunday), excluding sleep-ins.
- Weekend enhancement of £2.00/hour (7am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday).
- Proposed changes to enhancement rates from 1 December 2025 may reduce night and weekend enhancements to £1.00/hour.
Benefits include:
- Competitive pay and employee rewards such as Wagestream, Blue Light discounts, free DBS checks, generous leave, pension scheme, and training programs.
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Cook employer: Leonard Cheshire
Contact Detail:
Leonard Cheshire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of the residents at Gloucestershire House. Understanding how to cater for various dietary restrictions will not only showcase your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to providing personalised care.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have in supervising kitchen staff. Being able to lead a team effectively is crucial in this role, so be prepared to discuss your leadership style and any relevant experiences during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of food hygiene standards and safety regulations. Since maintaining high standards is a key responsibility, being able to discuss these topics confidently will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Be flexible and open about your availability for night shifts and weekends. Emphasising your willingness to work varied hours can make you a more attractive candidate, especially given the enhancements offered for these shifts.
We think you need these skills to ace Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in a kitchen environment. Include specific roles and responsibilities that demonstrate your ability to deliver a healthy, nutritionally balanced menu.
Highlight Qualifications: Clearly state your catering qualifications, such as your Level 3 or Level 4 Food Hygiene Certificate. If you are working towards a qualification, mention this as well to show your commitment to professional development.
Showcase Flexibility: Emphasise your flexibility to work rostered hours, including nights and weekends. This is crucial for the role, so provide examples of how you've successfully managed similar schedules in the past.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your experience but also conveys your passion for cooking and supporting individuals with specific dietary needs. Mention any relevant catering experiences and your approach to maintaining high hygiene and safety standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonard Cheshire
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your previous cooking experiences and highlight any specific dishes or menus you've created. If possible, bring along a portfolio of your work or even a sample dish to demonstrate your skills.
✨Understand Dietary Needs
Familiarise yourself with common dietary restrictions and preferences, especially those relevant to disabled adults. Be ready to discuss how you would tailor meals to meet these needs while maintaining nutritional balance.
✨Emphasise Hygiene and Safety Standards
Since maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety is crucial, be prepared to talk about your knowledge of food safety regulations and your experience in implementing them in the kitchen.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
As the role involves supervising kitchen staff, think of examples where you've successfully led a team or managed kitchen operations. Highlight your ability to motivate others and maintain a positive working environment.