Temporary Schools and Central Support Officer (Catering Services)

Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg / This document is also available in Welsh.

Job title: Temporary Schools and Central Support Officer (Catering Services) - 2 years

Location: Valleys Innovation Centre / Agile

Grade: Grade 8 - £33,699

Type of contract: Temporary

About Us

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Catering Services are incorporated into the 21st Century Schools & Transformation Division. Catering Services has a proud record of delivering nutritious meals to young people in educational establishments. Our dynamic and flexible workforce play a vital role in supporting the development of healthier lifestyles for those within our community.

About The Role

Catering Services are looking for a self-motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Schools Sector as a Temporary Schools and Central Support Officer.

The successful candidate will provide key support to the Principal Officer (Schools) in the operational management of school catering sites, including breakfast clubs, helping to ensure that high standards of service and safety are maintained.

A key part of the role will be supporting the management of workforce and employment processes across the service. You will undertake a range of day-to-day operational workforce activities including recruitment and selection, induction, sickness absence management, disciplinary and grievance matters and will work closely with Human Resources.

You will also support the monitoring of financial and performance information including meal numbers, food costs, staffing costs and productivity, ensuring accurate records and management information are maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Principal Officer (Schools) and act as Deputy in their absence.
• Assist in ensuring a high quality, cost effective, efficient and consistent catering service is provided to customers and service users.
• Support the operational monitoring of school catering sites and breakfast clubs, ensuring standards and safety requirements are maintained.
• Undertake day-to-day workforce activities including recruitment and selection, induction and liaison with Human Resources.
• Support the management and control of sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance matters.
• Assist with the line management of staff across the sector.
• Maintain accurate financial and management information including orders, invoices, budgets, meal numbers, food costs, staffing costs and productivity.
• Monitor and respond to performance information and assist with action plans where required.
• Support the review of staffing levels and productivity across school catering sites.
• Assist with service changes, efficiencies, cost savings, kitchen planning and service improvements.
• Support menu promotions and improvements to meal quality and customer satisfaction.
• Assist in ensuring Food Safety and Health and Safety requirements are followed.
• Take appropriate action in relation to Environmental Health Officer reports and recommendations.

The successful candidate will

• Have experience of using Microsoft Office packages and other management information systems.
• Have line management experience.
• Have good communication and organisational skills.
• Be able to plan and prioritise workloads and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Have an understanding of workforce and HR processes including recruitment, sickness absence and employee relations.
• Be able to work effectively with colleagues, managers, schools and Human Resources.
• Have a positive, customer-focused approach and consistently work towards high-quality outcomes.
• Be able to travel throughout the County Borough as required.

Experience of working within local government, a human resources environment and/or catering services would be advantageous.

Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a core responsibility of all staff appointed to the Council.

In addition to this safeguarding responsibility, the successful applicant for this role will also be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

The Council values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non-binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.

An application submitted for this post in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

As part of the Council’s longer term objectives in relation to the Welsh language and its Workforce Planning Strategy, it is committed to a guaranteed interview scheme for Welsh-speakers of Level 3 and above. If you meet the essential criteria as identified in the person specification for the job and are a Welsh-speaker of Level 3 and above, you will be invited to interview if you choose to participate in the scheme.

In view of the large number of Application Forms which are currently being submitted individual applications are not acknowledged. Consequently if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application is unsuccessful on this occasion. In which case you are thanked for the interest you have shown in applying for a position within the Council.

In support of the Council’s voluntary pledge to support the Armed Forces, the recruiter must always be prepared to ensure that applicants who have identified themselves as members of the Armed Forces including Service Leavers, Veterans or Reservists and who meet the essential criteria of the person specification, are offered an interview.

Care Experienced Leavers – Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of the Council’s corporate parenting role it is committed to supporting its care experienced leavers. This means anyone who has spent time within the care system at any point in their life. We encourage applications from individuals who are care experienced to enable them to access employment, education, experiences and volunteering opportunities.

The Council will guarantee an interview for any care experienced leavers who wish to take part in the scheme who meet the essential criteria for the role.