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Chef (Justice Team) – Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: £30,051 per annum plus excellent benefits
About the Role
Ready to impact a better future? As a Chef in our Justice team, you’ll play a key role in delivering high-quality catering services within HMP Dovegate. You’ll help ensure meals are nutritious, compliant with regulations, and prepared to consistently high standards, supporting the day-to-day wellbeing of residents.
This is more than a kitchen role. Your work will contribute to rehabilitation by:
- Creating structure
- Building skills
- Supporting a positive environment
Be part of a team committed to making a real difference – fostering a safe, respectful environment where individuals can grow and progress towards a better future.
What You’ll Do as a Chef
You’ll be entrusted with the following roles and responsibilities:
- Supporting the delivery of catering services, ensuring compliance with:
- Food safety standards
- Health and safety regulations
- Preparing and providing varied, balanced menus, including:
- Special diets
- Cultural and religious requirements
- Event-specific meals
- Maintaining high standards of food safety, storage, and hygiene throughout preparation and service
- Completing all required documentation in line with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and company policies
- Supervising and supporting kitchen workers, contributing to:
- Training and development
- Conducting quality checks before, during, and after meal service
- Responding to feedback and complaints, collaborating to improve service delivery
- Addressing operational requirements, including:
- Resident movement
- Kitchen procedures
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Requirements
Qualifications & Experience
You’ll be a strong candidate if you have:
- A recognised catering qualification, such as:
- City & Guilds
- NVQ in food preparation and production
- Food Safety Level 3 certification, plus awareness of:
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
- Allergen management
- Experience in large-scale catering environments, ideally within:
- A secure or regulated setting (e.g., prisons, residential care)
- Strong:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work collaboratively
- Organisational and time management skills for a busy environment
- A resilient and adaptable approach with commitment to working in a diverse, people-focused setting
Vetting & Checks
This role requires mandatory Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which includes:
- Verification of:
- Identity
- Employment history
- Nationality
- Criminal record (to meet government security standards)
Depending on the nature of the role, you may also be required to pursue:
- Formal security clearance (e.g., Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) or Security Check (SC)):
- Involves detailed background checks on:
- Employment history
- Criminal record
- Financial history
- Involves detailed background checks on:
- UK residency requirements may apply for certain clearance levels.
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Additionally:
- You’ll complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to ensure support needs for the role are identified and accommodated.
What We Offer
Competitive Benefits Package
We’re committed to your growth and well-being, offering:
- Competitive annual leave entitlement
- Free on-site care parking
- Free use of an on-site gym
- Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
- Access to over 1,100 internal courses, including funding for:
- Qualifications
- Apprenticeships (e.g., Level 3 Team Leader, Level 5 Operations Manager)
- Mentoring opportunities with a focus on internal progression
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Bupa Anytime HealthLine
- Wellbeing app
- 30% discount at Serco-managed leisure centres
- 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
- Staff discounts across around 1,000 retailers (food, clothing, entertainment, travel)
- Paid volunteering day
- Tax-free charitable giving via:
- Payroll Giving Scheme
- Monthly donation to the Serco People Fund Charity
Inclusion & Community
Our networks support equality and belonging by providing spaces for:
- Collaboration
- Learning
- Representation for:
- LGBTQIA+ employees
- Women
- Parents and carers
- People with disabilities
- Veterans
- Colleagues from all cultural backgrounds
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
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