Cook

**About Us**
There is a need to adapt the way West Sussex County Council delivers services so that we can better meet the needs of people in West Sussex both now and in the future. The Adults in House Social Care Services are making changes that will ensure day services are flexible, responsive and see people for who they are, as well as what they can and wish to do

Ball Tree Croft is a residential home based in Sompting, Lancing supporting up to 19 adults with specialist care needs such as:

- Asperger Syndrome
- Autism/ASD
- Down Syndrome
- Epilepsy
- Hearing impairment and deafness
- Speech impairment
- Visual impairment.

We provide care and support to the people who live here and people who use our short breaks service. We have a good reputation for providing high quality care & support to people with a wide range of support needs.

Why not check out our campaign page for further information about **careers in adults social work.**
**About The Job**
Salary**: £19,312 to £19,698 per annum (pro rata)
**Working Pattern**: Part-time and Full-time position available (36 and 14.5 hours per week)
**Contract Length**:Permanent

**Location**: Ball Tree Croft, Sompting, Lancing

**Interview Date**:TBC

As a Cook for our Residential Home, you will prepare & cook nutritionally balanced meals. You will have the opportunity to be involved in the designing of menus with the Management team & people of Ball Tree Croft.

You will also be responsible for:

- Food Hygiene procedures
- Ensure the kitchen is maintained to a high standard
- Ordering goods within a specified budget
- Keeping accurate records

In this role, you’ll undertake a variety of tasks involved in the operation of the establishment’s kitchen. You’ll prepare and cook nutritionally balanced and appetizing meals for the people we support, help with the provision of hot drinks and cater for special events and functions.

It’s an active role in a busy kitchen environment - for example you’ll be carrying shopping and heavy pots and pans at times and moving and handling large kitchen equipment.

You’ll need to be flexible in working both weekdays and occasional weekends and evenings to ensure the needs of the home / centre are met. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public, staff, residents, and visitors.

To succeed as a Cook, you will be friendly, enthusiastic, and hardworking with the ability to follow defined instructions to a high standard when assisting in preparing and serving food. You’ll be able to interpret straightforward information and situations - for example, instructions describing tasks.

You will be a keen team player, responsive to changing needs, and able to work professionally alongside staff, visitors, and residents. You’ll demonstrate good common sense and an awareness of personal health and safety when using kitchen equipment and materials.
**Experience and Skills**
Key Skills**:

- Communication and interpersonal skills (including use of tact) in order to take messages or make resource bookings etc.
- Good literacy and numeracy skills in order to complete records, design menus and returns as required.
- Ability to organise / prioritise work, co-ordinate a variety of tasks in a clear and logical way, and meet agreed deadlines.
- Ability to be sensitive to the needs of the people.
- Ability to prepare food of a varied nature to a high standard.
- Ability to purchase food ingredients for the home.

**Qualifications and/or experience**:

- 3 GCSEs with A-C (9-4) passes including Maths and English or equivalent qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience demonstrating that level of numeracy and literacy.
- Recognised Food Handling and Hygiene qualification, Basic Food Hygiene certificate.
- NVQ Level 2 in catering or equivalent qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience - Desirable
- Knowledge of ordering, costing and stock control.
- Knowledge of effective cooking techniques and healthy, nutritious recipes.
- Knowledge of cleaning schedules and their implementation.
- Awareness of Health and Safety issues, including risk assessment - Desirable
- Sound cooking experience, including preparing, cooking and serving meals for a large group of people.
- Experience of cleaning and using both domestic and commercial equipment.
- Experience of working as part of a team.

**Rewards and Benefits**
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary you will have access to:

- Up to 24 days annual leave + bank holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually
- Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme
- A range of flexible working options

For a full