Cook in Stoke-on-Trent

This is a diverse social care role where every day is different. For adults with learning disabilities, you’ll open the door to lives of independence, fulfilment, and joy. Your impact will be felt across families and throughout the Staffordshire communities we’re proud to serve. Staffordshire County Council are looking for motivated people who are passionate about providing outstanding food quality for adults with learning disabilities.

We specialise in supporting adults with complex needs, profound and multiple learning disabilities, and behaviours that challenge. Our mission is to promote opportunities, independence and choice so individuals can thrive, and our vision is to be leaders in providing innovative and inspirational care and support. Douglas Road is a residential respite facility for up to eight adults. The service is dynamic and caters for people with varying levels of need. People come to our service for a break and could stay for a number of days or weeks. The people we support are always changing which makes it an interesting, fast-paced and rewarding place to work.

You will be expected to work flexibly across the week according to business need, undertaking a range of shifts that may include weekend and bank holiday working, early morning, evenings, and split shifts. Rotas are subject to change depending on business need. Although this role is based primarily at Douglas Road, Newcastle, there may be times when you are expected to work flexibly across Provider Services, including different care settings, delivery approaches, and locations, as required.

• Provide a high-quality kitchen service, recognising and catering for individual needs and preferences.
• Devise nutritionally balanced, varied and attractively presented menus, catering for specific dietary needs.
• Embrace digital by using systems, equipment, and technology to improve kitchen efficiency.
• Ensure regular cleaning of kitchen, dining, and storage areas in line with environmental health regulations, including COSHH and HACCP requirements and assisting with inspections.
• Maintain accurate records, whilst regularly checking food stocks and ordering provisions, ensuring costs are within budget.
• Communicate and interact effectively with individuals, carers, colleagues, and others creating positive relationships and being inclusive of all.

We are looking for people who are passionate about providing outstanding care quality for adults with learning disabilities. Our aspirations are to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating with the CQC, and we are looking for someone who shares our values, ambitions, and vision.

• Basic food hygiene certificate.
• Recognised catering qualification, or willingness to complete.
• Experience as a professional cook with a knowledge of kitchen management.
• Ability and knowledge to plan a varied menu.
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures including being able to demonstrate an understanding of COSHH implications for materials/supplies.
• Ability to understand safe and correct food hygiene/handling procedures with a demonstrable knowledge of HACCP system.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of infection control principles (including hazard compliance).
• Be enthusiastic about working with people with learning disabilities and autism.
• ICT skills to complete digital record keeping.
• Food/beverage preparation skills and enthusiasm for providing nutritious meals.
• Literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to plan menus, order supplies and monitor budgets.

If you already hold a catering qualification, we would love to hear from you but don’t worry if not, we are happy to support you in gaining the skills and knowledge needed for this qualification.

Please note that this role will require an enhanced DBS check and a pre-employment health assessment as part of the onboarding process. This role is regulated by CQC, and it is a requirement that we obtain FULL employment history, from leaving secondary school.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Sam Dickinson at sam.dickinson@staffordshire.gov.uk.

We are no ordinary county council: Our Values: The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to our rewards and benefits.

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post. As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.