Head Cook, Farms for City Children, Pembrokeshire

**About Farms for City Children**

Farms for City Children exists to remove the barriers that prevent children and young people from urban areas having meaningful access to the natural world and the farming sector. Through a week on one of our three farms, Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis in Pembrokeshire and Wick Court in Gloucestershire, children and young people experience increased learning and engagement, improved connections with others and positive wellbeing and leave us with enhanced environmental citizenship. Whether they stay for a whole week with their school or come with a local group for a day visit, this unique experience can be life changing. Visiting children are immersed in the natural world of food, farming and countryside life where they participate in the seasonal tasks of the day: sowing, growing and harvesting in our kitchen gardens; caring for livestock and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown feast in the farmhouse kitchen. Spending time working alongside real farmers fosters children’s independence and helps them to grow in confidence, develops their self-esteem, and encourages them to become more resilient. At our heritage farms and in partnership with our commercial farming neighbours, children experience the benefits of collaboration, enjoy plenty of physical activity, good food, and fresh air, and discover the magical rural environment that is full of new words, sounds and experiences to inspire their creativity.
- “Some of the children we took to the farms had very difficult and chaotic lives. We took them out of a very difficult environment where they were unable to socialise and didn’t know how to share and put them into a totally different world. It was a haven where they could thrive.”_
Teacher from London

**Role Overview**

This role will have direct contact with our visiting children and adults and will include delivering fun and informative cooking sessions for groups of children. We pride ourselves on being able to cater for a full range of dietary needs and cultural differences.

**About You**

You are passionate about cooking and nutrition and would be keen to provide a high quality, nutritionally balanced, varied and healthy menu for children, visitors and volunteer groups. You will be able to oversee the work of the Kitchen Assistants to maintain our food hygiene standards and will be responsible for record keeping, training for all staff involved in food preparation, liaising with environmental health and ordering/purchasing food, with the support of our Office Manager. You will be self-driven, patient and adaptable, able to plan, prioritise and manage time effectively whilst being a team player who will cultivate a warm and friendly relationship with the staff and children throughout their stay.

**Main responsibilities**
- To run the kitchen and supervise the work of the Kitchen Assistants and others supporting the kitchen
- To be responsible for providing a high quality, nutritionally balanced, varied and healthy menu of home-made meals for all visitors and staff that adheres to the Charity’s Good Food Policy
- Management and oversight of all food standards requirements, maintaining our outstanding reputation and rating, to include all record keeping, training for all staff involved in food preparation and liaising with Environmental Health
- To be responsible for ordering and purchasing all food, including working with our Farm Operations Team to develop internal transfers of fresh produce, and working closely with the Office Manager in the administration of accounts and suppliers to ensure we meet budget target
- Support the farm management team to create a warm, welcoming environment in which all visiting children flourish
- Ensure catering equipment is in good condition and used and stored safely, working closely with the Farm School Manager to maintain the highest Health and Safety practices in the kitchen
- To actively seek feedback from groups in residence to ensure that we are able to respond positively to any dietary needs

**Strategy, Ethos, and Values**
- Champion quality and excellence, seeking-out and sharing constructive feedback from beneficiaries to support the continual evolution of the operations at Lower Treginnis
- Model the values and ethos of the Charity and ensure these are upheld at all times

**Continuous professional development**
- Maintain a commitment to continuous professional development including undertaking professional and technical training as required by the Charity
- Keep abreast of best practice, by developing links with other organisations in the sector, holding professional memberships, and participating in local and regional forums

**General**
- Attend and contribute to Health and Safety and team meetings, proactively contributing ideas and suggestions in advance, and preparing reports as required
- Any other work as directed by the Farm School Manager, appropriate to the role
- **Pers