Head Cook

**Position**: Head Cook
**Care Home**:Kavanagh Place
**Location**: Kirkdale, Liverpool (LR 1UB)
**Contract type**: Permanent - full time hours available
**Shifts Available**: Flexible (Incl. weekends)
**Rate: U**p to £10.43 per hour dependent on experience

**CQC Rating**: Good (24-Jun-21)

**About Exemplar Health Care**:
We have over 20 years of experience providing exceptional specialist nursing care for adults living with complex and high acuity needs. We started our journey as a training company, and have grown into one of the country’s leading providers of adult specialist care, with over 35 complex needs care homes in England.

Our vision is that adults living with complex needs can access outstanding specialist care and support, in a community-based home that’s close to their family and friends, and that focuses on their personal goals and outcomes. Our person-centred care is the bedrock for maximising independence, building everyday living skills and empowering people to live as fulfilled lives as possible.

Our mission is to make every day better for the people we support and our colleagues. We’re proud of the culture that we’ve created at Exemplar Health Care, which is underpinned by our vision, mission and values.

**About Kavanagh Place**:
Kavanagh Place supports 42 adults living with complex mental health needs, dementia and physical disabilities.

The home has four ten-bed units, which gives it a homely and welcoming feel. One of the units is exclusively for those who identify as male and who have complex mental health needs.

Kavanagh Place also has a two-bed OneCare service which provides nursing care in a domestic environment, for those whose needs require they live alone.

Kavanagh Place is rated ‘Good’ with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on carehome.co.uk.

**About the Role**:
As a Head Cook at Kavanagh Place, you’ll lead the Catering Team in providing delicious, healthy and nutritious meals for our service users.

This is an exciting opportunity to use your cooking skills to make a real difference One of our values is fun, and we expect our Head Cooks to get involved in all aspects of care home life. There’ll be lots of opportunities to use your creative flair to make tasty treats for activities, events and parties in the home.

The role is very hands on. As well as managing the day-to-day running of the kitchen, you’ll prepare, cook and serve food.

The people who live at Kavanagh Place may have complex dietary requirements due to their medical conditions. You’ll take the time to understand people’s likes, needs and choices, and develop suitable menus.

As a manager, you’ll ensure the team complies with food hygiene standards, complete the relevant checks and records, and control stock and purchases within an allocated budget.

This role has line management responsibility, in which you’ll ensure that your team is adequately inducted, trained and supported.

Being a Head Cook at Kavanagh Place is extremely rewarding. You’ll see the difference you make each and every day, which provides great job satisfaction.

If you’re looking for an exciting new catering role, read the job description and person specification to find out more.

**About You**:
**You will**:

- Be a qualified chef with a minimum of a relevant Level 3 qualification
- Hold an in-date Food Handling Certificate
- Have an understanding of our Service User's religious and dietary requirements
- Have experience in leading kitchen staff in a healthcare setting
- Polite & professional, with a positive attitude

**About Your Career**:
At Exemplar Health Care, we’re committed to investing in our colleagues.

As a Head Cook at Kavanagh Place, there are lots of opportunities to do continuing professional development and progress in your career if you wish.

We offer a range of in-house and external training programmes including:

- A bespoke induction
- Mandatory and statutory training (MAST) to refresh your skills
- Apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships

**About Your Benefits**:
We know that happy colleagues make the best colleagues Exemplar Health Care has a unique rewards and benefits package. So whilst you’re busy caring for our Service Users, you can be assured that we’re caring for you.

**Here are just a few of the ways we like to say thank you**:

- Lifestyle and retail discounts at over 250 high street retailers
- Award winning 24/7 employee counselling and support service
- Paid DBS check
- Exceptional development opportunities including CPD Certificated programmes
- fastPAYE - access your wage for additional hours worked before payday
- Blue Light Card access
- Company Shop membership
- Free uniform

**About Our Values**:
Our values underpin everything that we do and ensure that we continue to make every day better for our service users and colleagues. We look for these values in everyone who works with Exemplar Health Care:

- Fun
-