Assistant Cook

**ASSISTANT COOK**
Hopscotch Day Nurseries - **Titchfield**

**Hours**: 15 hours per week
**Days**:Monday to Friday
**Experience/Qualifications**: Food Hygiene qualifications are desirable but not essential as training will be given

**Benefits**:

- 28 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays)
- An additional two days (pro-rata) on completion of three years’ service.
- Birthday day off
- Christmas leave (3 days company closure for free)
- Up to 50% discounted childcare
- Uniform
- Unlimited training opportunities at no cost

**What will you be today?**
- Teacher, Nurse, Artist, Builder, Chef, Actor, Carer, Gardener, Cosmetics Expert, Hair Stylist, Photographer, Confidante, Playmate, Friend? With over 250 employee positions we can guarantee that we have a role for you. _

Hopscotch, recently rated as a ‘Top 20 Mid-Size Nursery Group’ by Day Nurseries, have a number of exciting opportunities within our 8 settings: Portswood, Regents Park (Shirley), Eastleigh, Botley, Titchfield, Lee on Solent, Gosport, Fareham. We opened our first setting, Gosport, in 2005 and are proud of what we have achieved across the group so far.

Everyone at Hopscotch is passionate about what they do - providing exceptional childcare.  We value and support out team members throughout their employment with us, from those that join us as Apprentices through to our Senior Leadership Team. Everyone has the opportunity to progress, training from NVQ 3 through to degree status.

**JOB PURPOSE**
- Work alongside the Nursery Cook and assist in the day to day running of the kitchen.
- Assist in the serving and delivering of meals and making sure the kitchen area is kept clean at all times.
- Working in partnership with the Nursery Cook to ensure the preparation of balanced, healthy food
- Adhere to all company policies and procedures and Health and Safety guidelines

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Prepare, cook, and serve meals and snacks as per menus and recipe file in the appropriate quantities for children at the nursery alongside the Nursery Cook
- Prepare afternoon tea items in appropriate quantities ready for cooking / service by the childcare team
- Prepare and serve meals appropriate for special diets, using allergy reports and liaising with childcare team and carers as required.
- Report shortages, damage, and poor-quality goods immediately to Nursery Cook/Manager
- Ensure correct storage of all food items at the correct temperatures and in date
- Wash up when needed throughout the day and load/unload the dishwasher
- To run the kitchen in absence of the Nursery Cook
- Comply with all relevant Health and Safety legislation
- Carry out health and safety checks as outlined with company policies and procedures
- Carry out risk assessments where appropriate
- Ensure all food substances are appropriately labeled
- Ensure stock rotation is done in line with company policy
- Ensure all foods that are stored in the refrigerator and freezer are labeled and adequately covered
- Monitor and record fridge and freezer temperatures daily
- Monitor and record high-risk food temperatures at time of delivery and cooking
- Store and serve food at required temperatures
- Ensure that the kitchen and equipment is kept suitably clean at all times completing the daily and weekly cleaning rotas
- Ensure the effective and regular removal of waste materials to the appropriate waste store and recycling areas
- Be responsible for participating in self development activities including ongoing training and appraisal
- Attend regular relevant staff meetings, planning meetings and parent evenings supporting the Nursery Cook as requested to include but not exclusive, Catering meetings, Family Days and Graduation.
- Sound understanding of food hygiene, health & safety and allergy/dietary control guidelines and procedures
- Experience in a busy kitchen environment working in a similar/equivalent role
- Experience working in a childcare environment e.g. day nursery/after school club/school
- Familiarity with COSHH, HACCP, Risk Assessments or willingness to work towards
- Able to work well under pressure
- Organised
- Ability to work well in a team and independently
- Ability to work to a tight schedule
- Have a positive attitude
- Reliable and trustworthy
- High standard of personal hygiene and appearance
- Ability to manage a day to day workload with a flexible approach to prioritising work
- Good rapport with children
- Adaptable

**DESIREBLE**
- Food Hygiene certificate
- Current and full driving licence and be willing to work across multiple locations

**ESSENTIAL**
- Good knowledge of cooking home style food

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 15 per week

**Salary**: £7,410.00-£7,644.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Referral programme

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday
- No weekends

Reference ID: HDNT 2507