REPORTING TO: Home Manager
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- City & Guilds 706 – 1 & 2, or equivalent (achieved or working towards)
- Basic Food / Hygiene Certificate
- Good communication skills
- Ability to manage pressure and conflicting demands, and prioritize tasks
- Team player
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Satisfactory Police Check and check against the POVA List (where applicable)
Desired:
- Intermediate Food / Hygiene Certificate
- Previous supervisory experience
- Knowledge of nutrition and dietetics
- Experience of Food Preparation for the relevant Client group
JOB PURPOSE:
As the Head Chef, you are responsible for managing the operation of the kitchen including food production, staff management, supplies, presentation/service and record management, and compliance with quality and safety standards. Your duties will include:
Food Preparation:
- Supervised and prepared the cooking and serving of delicious and nutritious hot and cold meals, as and when required for both Clients and Staff.
- Ensuring all meals are of the highest possible quality and attractively presented.
- Providing for special dietary requirements where necessary and taking into account the preferences of individual Clients.
- Portioning meals to Clients.
Communication:
- Liaising with the Home Manager when planning/costing menus to provide a balanced nutritious diet, and making the best use of available fresh foods.
- Arranging/participating in Staff and Client meetings as required.
Budgetary / Financial Control:
- Maintaining accurate records of food supplies, waste and hazard analysis, and freezer/fridge temperatures as required by Environmental Health, Food Standards Agency, CQC, and the Company.
- Ensuring the correct and economical use of provisions and equipment within budgetary guidelines.
- Ensuring stock rotation. Ordering stocks checking deliveries, and checking and valuing stocks as required by the Home Manager.
- Planning, design, and costing of menus.
Human Resources (HR):
- Preparing Staff Rotas for the Kitchen.
- Organizing cleaning schedules.
- Interviewing new Staff Members with the Home Manager as and when required, in line with the Company’s Recruitment policy.
Training & Development:
- Supervising and instructing Kitchen Staff Members in the use of all equipment and hygiene procedures, and giving help and guidance where appropriate.
- Conducting basic food hygiene training for all Care Staff involved in handling and delivery of food.
- Maintaining and improving professional knowledge and competence.
- Attending mandatory training days/courses, on or off-site, as and when required.
Health & Safety:
- Ensuring statutory Health and Safety standards in the kitchen and dining areas.
- Making certain that chemicals/kitchen equipment are used and stored correctly and safety procedures are adhered to at all times.
- Ensuring all crockery and equipment is cleaned and stored appropriately, and that the overall cleaning of the kitchen area (and, where appropriate, the dining areas) is carried out effectively.
- Reporting immediately to the Home Manager, or Person in Charge, any illness of an infectious nature or accident incurred by a Client, colleague, self, or another.
- Understanding and ensuring the implementation of the Home’s Health and Safety, Infection Control and Hygiene policies, and Emergency and Fire procedures.
- Reporting to the Home Manager, or the Handyperson, any faulty appliances, damaged furniture, equipment or any potential hazard.
- Promoting safe working practices in the Home.
General:
- Contributing to the safeguarding of adults by ensuring you are aware of your role in the Home’s Safeguarding Adult Policy, taking steps to protect Residents from any form of abuse or neglect, and using the appropriate reporting mechanisms to inform the Home’s Management of any concerns.
- Adhering to all new, and changes in Local and Central Government initiatives as and when they are implemented.
- Promoting a positive personal/professional profile within the local community, ensuring the good reputation of the Home at all times.
- Ensuring that all information of confidential nature gained in the course of duty is not divulged to third parties.
- Notifying the Home Manager, or the Person in Charge, as soon as possible of your inability to report for duty, and also on your return to work from all periods of absence.
- Ensuring the security of the Home is maintained at all times.
- Adhering to all Company policies and procedures within the defined timescales.
- Ensuring all equipment is clean and well maintained.
- Carrying out any other tasks that may be reasonably assigned to you.