Catering Assistant (Casual Worker)

About The Role

The Catering Assistant plays a pivotal role within the Academy’s catering provision: you will be working as part of a team who ensure the delivery of a consistent, high-quality meal service by assisting with all aspects of food preparation, food service, kitchen hygiene and other duties associated with the running of the kitchen and food service operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and cooking of a range of nutritious food for mealtimes.
• Serve the food to an exceptional standard and interact with the staff and pupils in an appropriate and helpful way, providing a knowledgeable service at all times, in particular with regard to allergens and other dietary requirements.
• Assist in the sale, service and clearing of all food, beverages and utensils.
• Operate a cashless till and any other items of catering machinery or equipment, as directed.
• Assist with routine and deep cleaning of the kitchen, food storage, service and dining areas, including heavy and light equipment and machinery, crockery and cutlery, in accordance with the cleaning schedule.
• Follow established kitchen systems and procedures to guarantee an efficient and organised meal service.
• Assist with events and functions as required.
• Prepare refreshments for special functions, and collect and clean dirty cutlery, crockery and other serving items after functions, as and when required.
• Carry out the responsibilities of the post in accordance with all Health and Safety and relevant legislation, reporting any incidents or accidents to the Chef Manager.
• Receive deliveries, ensure correct stock rotation ensuring that all perishable and non-perishable commodities are stored under the correct conditions.
• Put deliveries of stock away in the designated storage, take and record temperature readings of deliveries and ensure that all stock is dated and rotated in accordance with direction from the Chef Manager.

Our ideal candidate will

• Have the right to work in the UK (Essential)
• Hold Health & Safety and Food Hygiene qualification L2 (Desirable)
• Hold a First aid qualification (Desirable)
• Work as part of a team to ensure that all service requirements are met.
• Actively promote the safety and welfare of our children and young people.
• Ensure compliance with Ark's data protection rules and procedures.
• Work with Ark Central and other academies in the Ark network, to establish good practice throughout the network, offering support where required.
• Perform other ad hoc duties as directed by the Chef Manager.

Benefits

• Weekly CPD sessions and twice as many training days as standard.
• Dedicated line management meetings.
• Encouragement to staff to develop their own ideas and projects within their departments and beyond.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers.
• Interest‑free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

About Us

At Ark Bolingbroke Academy, we are a courageous, compassionate community - empowering excellence. We are a value led organisation, being bold within every aspect of our lives at school. Our talented teaching and support staff insist on high educational standards every single day, and their commitment is shown in our excellent results, with over 80% of our students achieving a top‑third university or top 100 apprenticeship. We want all staff to thrive, modelling leadership and determination to the pupils and students within our rich and diverse academy, working together to fulfil our vision of creating a centre of excellence within our local community.

Diversity and inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non‑disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on‑going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.