driver prefered due to locaiton of the home

Hours: 25

Salary: £14,912.04 to £15,132 Annum

Overview of the role

The role of the Cook is to prepare and serve healthy balances meals to residents in our homes. You will oversee weekly budgets and shopping lists. On occasion you will work alongside other staff or residents in the kitchen making sure everyone’s safety is paramount.

Key duties

• Creating appropriate, exciting and well-balanced menus for residents
• Preparing and serving meals for the home
• Ensuring all special dietary needs are followed
• Familiarising yourself with residents’ allergens
• Preparing food to a high standard
• Maintaining relevant records and controlling stock rotation
• Ensuring the kitchen is always clean and hygienic
• Completing weekly food shops whilst managing the budget and adhering to all safety standards
• Setting a professional example with all working methods, procedures, personal presentation, timekeeping and hygiene
• Maintaining health and safety at work practices at all times

Personal attributes: 

• Organised and willing to learn
• Committed and enthusiastic approach
• The ability to maintain the required quality and service standards set
• A can-do attitude
• Satisfactory written and verbal communication skills

What are the benefits?*

• Holiday entitlement - starting from 28 days inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Sick pay entitlement
• Employee Assistance Programme - comprehensive health and wellbeing support for staff
• Refer a friend scheme - enjoy a payment of £500 when you recruit a friend to Choice Care
• Choiceversary - staff receive vouchers of £75 after 5 years, £100 after 10 years and £150 after 15 years to celebrate their commitment to Choice Care
• Christmas bonus - vouchers for all staff members
• Life insurance
• Annual staff awards - this year each winner received £400 and we had over 30 winners in total
• Complex in-house training - this includes our Advanced Management Development Programme for managers in the making and our Foundation Management Development Programme for rising stars
• A paid day off on your birthday
• Free monthly prize draw - all frontline care colleagues are automatically entered into a monthly prize draw. Three winners, selected at random, receive £500 each, tax-free
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Reclaim prescription costs for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and access free feminine hygiene products whilst on shift
• Wagestream – a financial health app that enables you to track your earnings, save a small amount automatically each month, receive optional pay advances, purchase vouchers for discounts with retailers, and get access to financial support and education

*minimum service periods applicable to some benefits

Who are we?

Choice Care is one of the UK’s leading residential care providers for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions. With over 30 years’ experience, we’re at the forefront of national best practice, with among the highest CQC ratings of any comparable organisation. We are also proud to be one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for the second year in a row!

Our homes are more than just a place to live, they’re like a second family for everyone we support. Each home is a close knit community, with its own unique personality, and all the ups and downs of typical family life, built on trust and the promise of unconditional care. Our colleagues build close bonds with the people they care for, helping to create enduring, positive relationships that build confidence and self-esteem.

In every Choice Care home there’s a strong emphasis on living life to the full and having fun, with purposeful daily activities based on individual preferences and capabilities. Alongside this there are regular social events, projects, outings and holiday breaks which everyone can get involved in and express themselves through.

Where will you work?

Ocknell Park is a large rural property, providing care and support for up to 12 men of various ages with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and associated complex needs. The home is in the heart of the New Forest, in five acres of tranquil, landscaped gardens and woodlands, just a short drive from Southampton city centre. Ocknell Park has 11 bedrooms in the main home, plus a one-bedroom, self-contained annexe designed for an individual who benefits from a more private environment, while still enjoying access to facilities and activities in the main house. The large gardens, with its own vegetable patch, are ideal for walking and relaxation. There are also a variety of outbuildings offering on-site day services and activities. The home has its own transport for trips to local recreational, leisure and educational facilities in the community. Residents enjoy visits to the beach, local zoos and walks in the New Forest.

SL000