Cook

Are you a warm, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual with a passion for creating delicious and nutritious meals for young children? As Bumbles Cook, you will play a vital role in the daily lives of our children by preparing healthy and appealing meals and snacks, contributing to their well-being and development.

To thrive in this role, you’ll need to bring a blend of culinary skills and a genuine understanding of children’s dietary needs. This role is based in our Bumbles on the Hill setting, Church Road BT6 9SA and the hours are 8:30am to 2:30pm.

**Salary and Hours**: £13 per hour (30hrs per week / Monday to Friday)

**Responsible to**:Manager, Director (Persons in Charge)

**Essential Criteria / Experience**

Food safety level II or higher

Relevant experience

Passion for cooking

Allergen awareness

Clean driver’s licence

**Desirable**

Enthusiasm for CCPD

First Aid / Paediatric First Aid

Child Protection Training

Health and Safety Qualification

**Job Summary**

Your role as Cook is to plan, prepare and serve well balanced meals and snacks to our children throughout the day and in doing so, adhering to the safety and hygiene policies and procedures of Bumbles and the Environmental Department. You will use your knowledge to contribute to the planning of a varied weekly menu, taking into account the requirements and age range of the children. You will ensure that the kitchen including all equipment therein are kept clean at all times, ensuring a welcoming environment.

**Your role and responsibilities as Cook include**

• To ensure appropriate and timely serving of all meals and snacks
• To ensure that the kitchen is safe at all times ie: ensuring that there are not too many staff using the kitchen working areas at any one time.
• To plan for the week ahead and produce a shopping order that takes into account everything required from the menu, without stockpiling.
• To exercise economical use of al materials and supplies.
• To ensure there is no wastage of food during the week or at the end of the week. There should be mínimal food in the fridge / freezers by the end of each week.
• To prepare, cook and present meals and snacks using the correct chopping boards and utensils according to the food being presented.
• To prepare food for the baby room ie: provide pureed versions of the menu or equivalent.
• To record the temperatures of the prepared food on a daily basis.
• To record the temperatures of the fridges and freezers appropriately.
• To use fresh produce as much as possible.
• To keep a record of deliveries and ensure appropriate recording of temperatures in line with current requirements of the environmental health department.
• To take into account dietary needs of individual children and complete the daily check each morning alongside a manager or another Co-ordinator. Check all of the dietary needs for that day, what is being served and what the allergens are in each meal / snack.
• To maintain a current list of all known allergens in relation to all food purchased in Bumbles and advise management appropriately if there are any amendments to ingredients of usual or different items ordered or delivered
• To work in a logical, planned manner ensuring work surfaces are kept tidy, spillage and waste cleared away promptly.
• To wash all utensils etc. and store in designated locations.
• To maintain cleanliness of the kitchen, including brushing the floor throughout the day.
• To empty and wipe the kitchen bin at the end of the shift.
• To look after the laundry alongside the housekeeper, ensuring washing machine / tumble dryer are kept clean. Ensure the lint has been removed from the tumble dryer.
• To ensure all cleaning products, sharp knives etc are kept out of reach of children or locked away appropriately.
• To answer the door, if required, ensuring that you know the person that you let in, if you are unsure, politely ask them to wait whilst you contact Management.
• To ensure milton solution is prepared every day.
• To adhere to all other relevant policies and procedures and be aware of changes to them as they occur.
• To contribute to updating policies and procedures in light of practice and experience.

**Weekly / Monthly Duties**

• To rotate all stock in food and cupboards / do not stockpile ingredients.
• To complete shopping lists as required each week, ensuring that we have ingredients to prepare the menu.
• To order fruit and milk on designated days, ensuring that these are varied appropriately as changes dictate.
• To wash the fridge and remove all stock / utensils from shelves / vegetable holders and wash thoroughly.
• To wash all cupboards, surfaces and drawers in the kitchen.
• To clean the hob / oven.
• To amend menu if not successful with the children alongside the management team.
• To receive / wash (if required) and pack away delivery as required.

**In your role you**

• Should ensure the development of good interpersonal relationships with children, parents and other staf