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- Tasks: Lead a catering team to prepare nutritious meals and support offenders in skill development.
- Company: Join a unique catering team within HMP Wealstun, making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension, and earn while you learn with apprenticeship opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hours with part-time options and excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Transform lives through cooking while enjoying a balanced work-life schedule.
- Qualifications: Level 2 food production certificate and food hygiene certification required.
The predicted salary is between 33746 - 35530 £ per year.
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.
- Band 3 salary minimum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £33,746
- Band 3 salary maximum inclusive of 20% unsocial hours allowance - £35,53
Qualifications and experience
- Level 2 certificate in food production within hospitality and catering or equivalent
- Food hygiene certificate at Level 2
In addition, you must be:
- 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
Please note refresher training in food safety (HACCP) should be completed at three year intervals.
Tips for applying
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.
Behaviours:
- Developing self and others
- Managing a quality service
- Communicating and influencing
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
16605 - Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Wealstun in Peacehaven employer: Ministry of Justice
Contact Detail:
Ministry of Justice Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land 16605 - Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Wealstun in Peacehaven
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the prison catering environment! Research what it’s like to work in a professional kitchen within a prison setting. This will help you understand the unique challenges and rewards, making you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your responses to those tricky behavioural questions. Think about past experiences where you’ve developed others or managed a quality service. We want you to show how you can communicate effectively and make decisions under pressure!
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former prison catering staff if you can. They can provide insider tips on what the role really entails and what the interviewers are looking for. Plus, it shows your genuine interest in the position!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Make sure your CV highlights your relevant qualifications and experience, especially your food hygiene knowledge and industrial kitchen skills.
We think you need these skills to ace 16605 - Prison Catering: Caterer - HMP Wealstun in Peacehaven
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft Your CV Wisely: Make sure your CV highlights your catering qualifications and any relevant experience. Tailor it to show how your skills align with the unique aspects of this role, especially your ability to work in an industrial kitchen and support others.
Nail Those Behavioural Questions: When answering the behavioural questions, think about specific examples from your past. We want to see how you've developed yourself and others, managed quality service, and made effective decisions in a team setting.
Show Your Passion for Impact: This role is all about making a difference. In your application, express why you’re excited about helping offenders learn new skills and turn their lives around. We love candidates who are passionate about their work!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details directly and can consider you for this fantastic opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Justice
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your catering qualifications and any relevant experience. Be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to the unique environment of a prison kitchen, especially in terms of health, safety, and hygiene regulations.
✨Showcase Your Impact
Think about how you can make a difference beyond just cooking. Prepare examples of how you've helped others learn new skills or improve their work ethic in previous roles. This will resonate well with the interviewers who are looking for someone to support offenders in their journey.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since they’ll ask behavioural questions, practice answering them using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Think of specific situations where you’ve developed yourself or others, managed quality service, or made effective decisions in a kitchen setting.
✨Be Ready for Shift Patterns
Understand the shift patterns and be prepared to discuss your flexibility regarding working hours, including weekends and public holidays. Showing that you’re adaptable will demonstrate your commitment to the role and the team.