Cook

Salary: 12237 (25494 FTE)

18 hours per week to be worked over 2 days variable shift pattern. Enhancements are payable for weekend working.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is seeking to appoint a part-time Cook to join our Catering Team and support the delivery of high-quality nutritious meals for patients visitors and staff. This role is integral to the hospices commitment to providing safe effective and compassionate care in line with CQC fundamental standards.

Reporting to the Head of Catering Services the post holder will be responsible for the preparation cooking and presentation of freshly prepared meals that meet individual patient needs and preferences. Food provision within the hospice plays a key role in supporting comfort dignity and wellbeing and must be delivered to consistently high standards.

In addition the post holder will be an experienced and confident baker with the ability to produce a range of freshly baked goods for the hospice café including cakes pastries and desserts. These items must be prepared to a consistently high standard using quality ingredients and in accordance with food safety and infection prevention requirements. The ability to plan prepare and present baked products that are visually appealing and suitable for a hospice environment is essential as the café plays an important role in supporting patients visitors and staff and contributes positively to the overall hospice experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare cook and present high-quality meals including soups main courses desserts cakes smoothies and snacks ensuring they are appetising nutritious and appropriate for patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care
• Deliver meals promptly at designated times maintaining the hospices standards for service safety and presentation
• Ensure all food preparation and service complies with current food safety legislation infection prevention and control requirements and recognised catering best practice
• Contribute to menu planning to ensure choice nutritional balance and consideration of cultural medical and dietary requirements
• Support catering provision for the hospice café meetings training sessions and events
• Assist with food ordering stock control stock rotation and receipt of deliveries in accordance with food safety standards
• Maintain a clean safe and hygienic working environment at all times with particular attention to end-of-shift cleaning procedures
• Accurately complete all required catering food safety and health and safety documentation
• Communicate professionally and sensitively with patients relatives visitors and colleagues recognising the emotional and confidential nature of the hospice environment

The successful candidate will be required to complete fire warden training and first aid training.

This role supports the hospices delivery of care that is safe effective caring responsive and well-led as defined by the CQC. The Cook will demonstrate respect compassion and professionalism recognising the importance of meals in maintaining patient dignity and enhancing quality of life.

This post is subject to a standard DBS check.

For an informal chat about the post please contact Simon Davies Head of Catering Services or Emily Carroll Facilities Manager on.

The Hospice is a great place to work and in Backford Chester (with retail shops in Chester and Ellesmere Port) the Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care in a welcoming and compassionate environment.

Our specialist team of medical and nursing staff deliver end of life care to our patients and support their families carers and friends but our services are varied across a number of disciplines and reflect the diverse nature of our care and addition to Doctors Nurses and Health care roles we employ staff in a wide range of roles including Fundraising and Retail in our charity shops Housekeeping and Catering Social Work and Family Support such as Counselling and Spiritual Care Living Well / Day Services as well as Business Support functions such as Administration People & Development and Finance.

We also have a large number of Volunteer roles in all these service have been supported by our volunteers ever since the hospice was established and we now have over 400 people contributing their time in so many different ways. Every hour volunteered allows us to continue providing specialist care and we are always welcoming applications for new volunteers so please get in touch.

We believe that equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination is a fundamental right for everyone and that diversity within our organisation and our community is a strength to be valued promoted and developed.

Being a part of and supporting such a diverse community it is vital that our staff and volunteer team represents the community in which we work. We welcome applications from people from all walks of life and backgrounds irrespective of peoples age disability sex gender identity and gender expression race or ethnicity religion or belief sexual orientation or other personal circumstances.

We understand that people perform better when they can be themselves and that by creating an environment that includes everyone our staff will perform to their full potential.

We do not discriminate against employees and volunteers or applicants and select the best person for each job or role based on relevant skills and experience.