Head Cook

**Head Cook**

**Salary Range** **£22,042 - £23,023 Full Time Equivalent**

**Grade** **HS5**

**Hours** **30 hours per week - actual salary ££17,891.89 - £18,418.40**

**Working Pattern - The role requires working on a rota system including regular monthly weekends and Bank Holidays. Shifts vary in duration throughout the day and fall between the hours of 6:30am and 18:30pm**

**Responsible to** **Catering Manager**

**Accountable to** **Head of Estates**

Overgate Hospice is an independent charity with a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the highest standard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limiting illness.

**Job Summary**

The Head Cook is a key member of the Catering team with responsibility to ensure the provision of a consistently high-quality catering service for patients, visitors, and staff

The Head Cook will also be responsible for supervising the Cooks and Volunteers as required and general kitchen management

**Minimum Qualifications / Experience Required**

GCSE Mathematics and English or equivalent

Computer literate

Previous experience of managing a busy catering service

NVQ Food Preparation and Cooking level 1-2 or equivalent

Certificate in Food Hygiene

**Key Working Relationships**

Head of Estates

Catering Manager

Clinical Teams in IPU and Day Hospice

Suppliers

Volunteer Services Department

Catering staff and volunteers

**Duties and Responsibilities of the Post**

To deputise for the Catering Manager during holidays or periods of absence

To be responsible for the day-to-day management of the kitchen service, and ensure that an appropriate highly individualised patient service is available

To meet with the Clinical Team and the Catering Manager on a regular basis to discuss any specific or changing patient needs

To support the provision of a diverse and well-presented selection of meals and snacks for patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers, including a catering service for hospice functions

To provide a consistently high-quality service between the hours of 6:30am and 18:30pm

To participate in meetings, audit, and quality initiatives

To assist with ordering of catering supplies, and ensure they are delivered, stored, and utilised according to Hospice standards and budget requirements

To be aware of and support food safety within the catering department and comply with all environmental health, care standards and audit requirements

Participate in the teaching, training and supervision of catering staff and volunteers, and other Hospice staff as appropriate

To work with the Catering Manager to maintain a cost effective and efficient service and work within agreed budgets

To participate and assist with devising weekly menus with the Catering Manager

To ensure fridges in reception are regularly checked and well-stocked with good choice of products

Comply fully with all Hospice Health and Safety requirements, and to attend mandatory training when required

To participate in the programmes of supervision, appraisal, and professional development in place at the Hospice, undertaking evidence based statutory and mandatory training as required

**Health and Safety**

To assist with the maintaining of appropriate records for health, safety and environmental health purposes and ensure they are completed in a timely manner

To be aware of compliance of statutory requirements affecting the catering service such as risk assessment, COHSS, fire and health and safety policies

To be aware of the requirements under current regulation relating to Health and Safety legislation and reduce risk to employees, volunteers, contractors, and the public

Under the direction of the Catering Manager, provide support and training to enable catering staff members to deliver their health and safety responsibilities

**Overgate General Duties & Responsibilities**

Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation

The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies & abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions

The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times & participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies

Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally

Employees must adhere to the Hospice’s Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work

Work closely with the Volunteer Services Coordinator as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise

Use all Hospice resources eco