Chef

Job Description

Job purpose

All staff are required to support the Home’s main purpose of encouraging and enabling children and young people to develop attitudinally, behaviourally, educationally and emotionally in order that they may deliver positive contributions to their families, society and their local communities whilst reducing offending, resulting in the decrease in victims of youth crime. To create and maintain a customer focused attitude and approach at all times that promotes positive relationships and generates a culture of openness and trust. To deliver efficient, effective and quality services by way of flexible working. To work together with colleagues from all other service areas within the home to provide and maintain a safe and secure living and learning environment that promotes the safety and welfare of children and young people in which they can prosper, develop and achieve. To foster, maintain and support pro-social behaviour, a restorative and solution focussed approach with, children, young people and colleagues.

Role

To prepare, deliver and serve freshly cooked meals to meet with Childrens Homes Regulations, Children’s Homes National Minimum Standards, Youth Justice Standards, Food Safety, Healthy Eating Standards, Leeds City Council and the homes policies, procedures and guidance.

Day to day responsibility for all activities in the Home’s main kitchen supporting the Chef Manager in menu planning and the ordering and stock control of food items, kitchen utensils and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Food production, portion control, presentation and service to accommodate service requirements within timescales and to agreed standards.
• Ordering of goods and contacting suppliers.
• Check deliveries and store all goods as stated in Cook Safe and Food Safety policies including stock rotation.
• To assist the Chef Manager in managing and directing the day-to-day tasks undertaken by the domestic assistant ensuring all required tasks are completed.
• Ensure attention is paid to healthy lifestyle choices and the nutritional needs of children and young people.
• To work together with the Chef Manager and other colleagues in the Catering Team with regard to menu planning to meet service requirements and specification, cultural and dietary needs and recommended nutritional guidelines.
• Work together with the Chef Manager in the delivery of a variety of themed menus and hospitality functions.
• Support the development of children and young people through the delivery of a well-balanced and nutritional diet.
• Together with the Chef Manager regularly review and revise the content of the menu taking into account seasonal variations in food items.
• Work together with Care and Education staff to provide catering opportunities and activities for children and young people. Training will be provided in managing challenging behaviour.
• Maintain quality control and food hygiene monitoring systems as stated in Leeds City Council, Cook Safe Food Hygiene Policy.
• Before using any equipment or substances make sure a risk assessment is in place and safety data sheets for products are available.
• The maintenance of high standards of Health & Safety and Hygiene including a daily recorded check of all operational catering equipment, the safe manual handling of stores and cooking equipment, ensuring the appropriate use and safe storage of all cleaning materials and the reporting of faults and hazards.
• Provide and maintain records to meet with legislative and statutory requirement.
• Attend and participate in meetings.
• Develop self to enhance performance and practice through reflection and learning, share knowledge, best practice, promote ideas for innovation and improvement and use information to take effective decisions.
• To, participate in annual appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills, develop practice through reflection and learning.
• Promote the on-site catering service and encourage children, young people, staff and visitors to use the catering facilities.
• Use of current software programmes and packages (training will be provided).
• To undertake any other duties as required that are commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.

Qualifications

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Current Basic Food Hygiene Certificate is essential
• QCF, NVQ, NQF qualification, or equivalent, in Catering, is essential.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
• Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements

Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Menu planning & Ordering Goods.
• Knowledge of National Standards for Youth Justice Services
• Knowledge of Children’s Homes National Minimum Standards
• Knowledge of the Children act 1989, Volume 5, Children’s Homes
• Knowledge of the Secure Estate for children and young people
• Of working in a residential care home or children’s service setting