Call/email Alisdair at School Staffing to get an application form to complete and send back to us.

We'll also send you a full job description with details of this SEN Schools' Group.

They are the sixth-largest provider of specialist educational services in the country, supporting over 900 children and young people, and employing over 1,000 staff.

Chef / Cook

Location: Tokers Green, Reading, Berkshire

Salary: £13.14ph - £14.72ph (actual annual salary £23,478.54 - £26,301.68) dependant on experience

Contract: Permanent Hours: 40 hours per week, term time only

This new Special Needs school is due to open in November 2024, supporting young people aged 6 -16 with Moderate to Severe Learning and Specific Learning Disabilities needs including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and associated difficulties, who require an individualised, specialist approach.

Key Duties:

Establish consistencies in meal and snack preparation whilst considering the dietary & sensory needs of the individual young people
Cost meal plans whilst considering a balanced, healthy diet that the young people will enjoy
Use creativity and experience to ensure meals are varied
Source and build on cost effective supplier relationships
Lead, motivate, engage and develop staff to encourage high performance
Communicate effectively at all times both verbally and in writing which ensures clarity regarding the ordering, preparation and delivery of all food
Ensure that health and safety, food hygiene and other standards are adhered to across the site

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the School when required.

Your Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Experience of managing a catering environment with the potential for multiple and complex dietary requirements
Experience of planning and preparing menus to ensure balanced, healthy eating and variety
Working knowledge of health and safety legislation (including COSHH regulations, manual handling and food hygiene procedures) and requirements in relation to food preparation
Experienced in carrying regular equipment/maintenance check and recording as and when required
Good standards of literacy, numeracy, written and verbal communication
Possess good working knowledge of kitchen equipment and cleaning schedules
Proven ability to prioritise tasks and work flexibly as appropriate
Committed to promoting the health, welfare and safeguarding of children and young adults
Level 2 Food Hygiene Certified or above
Have experience of cooking for between 40 -80 people

Benefits:

Life assurance
Enhanced pension scheme (from October)
Perkbox - offering high street discounts
Employee assistance programme
Car lease scheme
Fully funded training and qualifications
Bike to work scheme
Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

School Staffing Recruitment Ltd is acting as an employment business for this position.

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and we are therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.

As a result of the volume of applications, If we have not contacted you within two weeks of your application being received, then regretfully your application will not be taken forward on this occasion.