Cook at Chesham House in Lancing

Job Description
Royal Voluntary Service
has an opportunity available for a
cook
to join our team at Chesham House, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8AJ. You will join us on a
part time, permanent contract
, and in return, you will receive a salary of
£12.68 per hour (FTE £23,091 per annum).
About The Cook Role
Our Health and Community Services provide support to people across Great Britain who are isolated and lonely by helping them to reconnect with their communities and add value to their lives.

As our new cook you will be responsible for;

• Producing a range of high-quality meals, within a community centre setting, which are nutritious, varied and well- balanced.
• The creation and increase of opportunities to extend the food service offer for older people locally using the service centre and cafe.
• The costing of all meals as you will have budgetary responsibility for food/supplies, in conjunction with the service manager.
• Maintaining all appropriate Food and Health and Safety practices implemented and observed to meet statutory and corporate standards.

Location:
Based at Chesham House, Lancing, BN15 8AJ with travel across the West Sussex area.

Hours:
6 hours per week, working on a Friday with start and finish times to be confirmed.

Job Requirements
What you'll need

• NVQ Level 2 Catering (essential)
• Food Safety Level 2 (essential)
• Knowledge required of COSHH, HACCP, Health & Safety, Food Safety Hygiene Regulations (essential)
• Knowledge and experience of budget monitoring (essential)
• The ability to work on your own as well as part of a team, supporting volunteers, under the guidance of the Service Manager

Job Responsibilities
This is what you'll be doing:

• To cost, plan, prepare, and cook a wide range of quality menu choices, including cultural and special dietary requirements.
• To ensure sufficient food stocks are ordered and received from approved suppliers and that stock rotation is taking place in accordance with Food Hygiene Regulations and organisation operating procedures.
• To be responsible for budget management in relation to menu and food supplies, with the input of the service manager.
• To create opportunities to extend the food offer within the Community Centre and café, offering more choices for older people locally with the input of the service manager.
• To work closely with the service manager and team to ensure food service needs are met and any new initiatives or concerns are communicated, agreed and delivered within reasonable timeframes.
• To implement, monitor and maintain cleaning schedules that meet the requirements of the HACCP Manual and ensure that all areas of the kitchen are immaculately clean.
• To keep accurate daily compliance records for food, fridge and freezer temperatures.
• To make sure all kitchen equipment is in full, safe working order, reporting any damage or faults to the relevant person and following up any appropriate action.
• To understand and comply with statutory and legal requirements such as Health and Safety, COSHH and Environmental Health, ensuring a safe and compliant environment.
• To be involved on a regular basis with monitoring and assessing service users' satisfaction with the catering service provided and to respond accordingly and positively to ideas and feedback, with input of the service manager.
• To operate within the context of Royal Voluntary Service policies and procedures, to take part in any training offered particularly that which is relevant to your post.

This Is How You'll Be Doing It
Decision-making
Food safety, Health & Safety procedures to be complied with at all times.

Production and updating of menus.

The need to take responsibility for the operation of kitchen and catering provision and equipment.

Monthly 1:1, quarterly and annual performance reviews with the Service Manager.

Analysis and initiative
Adapt catering provision to suit customers and to attract new clients where possible.

Carry out regular customer satisfaction surveys, discuss results with the Service Manager and take appropriate action(s).

Recommend and discuss areas for improvement/change with Manager and act as agreed.

Planning and delivery
Café and Lunch club menus need to be planned on a 6-week rotation, menus will be planned in line with the seasons.

Ensure equipment is in good working order, report immediately any issues to the Service Manager.

Buffets and special events meals (e.g Christmas Lunch) menus need to be planned and implemented.

Producing a range of fresh cook items, catering for special dietary requirements as necessary.

Stock needs to be monitored, and orders placed weekly or as required.

Maintaining necessary records in order to comply with Food and Health & Safety regulations.

Budget monitoring, with the input of the service manager.

Working relationships
A variety of external providers use the premises at Chesham House and on occasion request food and or refreshments from our kitchen.

Supporting And Enabling Others
Supervisory responsibility for volunteers; there may be approx. 2-4 volunteers per day who will assist with various tasks within the kitchen and café environment. All will need to be allocated both regular tasks and one-off tasks.

Job Benefits
This is all the other great stuff you'll be getting:

• Salary of £12.68 per hour (FTE £23,091 per annum)
• 26 days' holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Ten weeks' company sick pay following successful completion of probation
• A great pension scheme
• 2 x Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
• Enhanced Family Leave schemes
• An employee benefits package that gives access to an exclusive rewards website to get discounts and cashback online
• A 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
• A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions included
• Extensive online and on the job training to ensure you will succeed in your role
• Opportunities to discuss flexible working
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities and society

If you feel have the skills and experience to become our
Cook
please click
'apply'
today, we'd love to hear from you

This is the latest you'll be able to apply, providing we do not close to applicants early:
The closing date for this role is
24 November 2025.
However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.
Please do not delay your application we often get a lot
At Royal Voluntary Service our goal is to welcome everyone and build inclusive and diverse teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work. To find out more about our commitment to EDI, visit our website.