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Kitchen Assistant

Wick Court, Gloucestershire

A new opportunity has arisen for a full-time Kitchen Assistant to join our worthwhile charity, which exists to remove the barriers that prevent children and young people having meaningful access to the natural world. Through a week on one of our three heritage farms, Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis in Pembrokeshire and Wick Court in Gloucestershire, children and young people experience increased learning and engagement, improved connections and wellbeing and leave us with enhanced environmental citizenship. Visiting children are immersed in the natural world of countryside through a food and farming offer that allows them to participate in the seasonal tasks of the day: sowing, growing and harvesting in our kitchen gardens; caring for livestock and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown feast in the farmhouse kitchen. Spending time working alongside real farmers fosters children’s independence and helps them to grow in confidence, develops their self-esteem, and encourages them to become more resilient. In partnership with our commercial farming neighbours, children experience the benefits of collaboration, enjoy plenty of physical activity, good food, and fresh air, and discover the magical rural environment that is full of new words, sounds and experiences to inspire their creativity.

About the Role

This is a hands-on role responsible for preparing food and supporting cooking sessions, for groups of beneficiary children at Wick Court, a smallholding raising pigs, poultry and sheep.

The Kitchen Assistant pays an important role within the running of our farm to fork offer and alongside the kitchen manager will prepare meals for up to 40 guests a week. The role is Monday to Friday and unusually for a catering role does not include shifts later than 6pm.

As part of the wider operations team, the Kitchen Assistant will also support outdoor cooking, harvesting from our kitchen gardens and create menus from the seasonal produce. If the candidate has an interest there may also be the opportunity to work with our farm team in caring for horses, pigs, poultry and cattle and supporting sessions of play and craft with our young visitors.

The successful post-holder will have experience preparing and serving healthy and delicious food and have a passion for local and sustainable produce. They will be understanding of children’s tastes and needs.

Main responsibilities

• To support the Kitchen Manager in providing a high quality, nutritionally balanced, varied and healthy menu of home-made meals for all visitors and staff that adheres to the Charity’s Good Food Policy
• To ensure that all food standards requirements, record keeping and the highest health and safety standards are maintained at all times in the kitchen, including taking responsibility for the management of this when the Kitchen Manager is not on duty
• To assist the Kitchen Manager with menu planning, food ordering and budgeting, food storage and other related tasks as directed
• Support the farm management team to create a warm, child-centred environment in which all visiting children flourish

This position is a farm-based role which will require only very occasional travel within the Charity’s regions in order to attend training or meetings..

Appointments will not be confirmed until the Charity has received two satisfactory professional references, evidence of the existing proof of right to work in the UK. Referees will not be contacted without candidates’ prior consent.

Farms for City Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates will be subject to a Social Media check and a DBS check at the appropriate level. Employment with the charity is conditional upon the charity being satisfied with the result of the DBS Check. Successful candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks. Any criminal records information that is disclosed to the charity will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or code of practice published by the DBS.

Farms for City Children is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity and supports and encourages under-represented groups. We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds, with diverse lived experience, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

What we Offer

In return you will receive a starting salary of between £21,527 and a range of benefits, which include:

25 days holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays

6% employer contribution to NEST pension scheme

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

Job Description – Kitchen Assistant

Job Title: Kitchen Assistant

Location: Wick Court

Reporting to: Kitchen Manager

Contract type: Full time, permanent

Salary: £21,527 per annum.

Benefits: 33 days holiday per annum inclusive of bank holidays, contributory pension of 6%,

employee assistance scheme with Health Assured.

Summary

This is a hands-on role responsible for preparing food and supporting cooking sessions, for groups of beneficiary children at Wick Court, a smallholding raising pigs, poultry and sheep.

The Kitchen Assistant pays an important role within the running of our farm to fork offer and alongside the kitchen manager will prepare meals for up to 40 guests a week. The role is Monday to Friday and unusually for a catering role does not include shifts later than 6pm.

As part of the wider operations team, the Kitchen Assistant will also support outdoor cooking, harvesting from our kitchen gardens and create menus from the seasonal produce. If the candidate has an interest there may also be the opportunity to work with our farm team in caring for horses, pigs, poultry and cattle  and supporting sessions of play and craft with our young visitors.

The successful post-holder will have experience preparing and serving healthy and delicious food and have a passion for local and sustainable produce. They will be understanding of children’s tastes and needs.

Main responsibilities

To support the Kitchen Manager in providing a high quality, nutritionally balanced, varied and healthy menu of home-made meals for all visitors and staff that adheres to the Charity’s Good Food Policy

To ensure that all food standards requirements, record keeping and the highest health and safety standards are maintained at all times in the kitchen, including taking responsibility for the management of this when the Kitchen Manager is not on duty

To assist the Kitchen Manager with menu planning, food ordering and budgeting, food storage and other related tasks as directed

Support the farm management team to create a warm, child-centred environment in which all visiting children flourish

Strategy, Ethos, and Values

Champion quality and excellence, seeking-out and sharing constructive feedback from beneficiaries

to support the continual evolution of the operations at Wick Court

Model the values and ethos of the Charity and ensure these are upheld at all times

Continuous professional development

Maintain a commitment to continuous professional development including undertaking professional and technical training as required by the Charity

Keep abreast of thematic best practice, by developing links with other organisations in the sector, holding professional memberships, and participating in local and regional forums

General

Attend and contribute to Health and Safety and team meetings, proactively contributing ideas and suggestions in advance

Any other work as directed by the Farm School Manager, appropriate to the role

Person Specification – Kitchen Assistant

Training, Experience and Qualification

Essential

Relevant experience of working in a kitchen environment

Desirable

Training in Food Hygiene

Experience of working with children and undertaking training in Safeguarding

Knowledge and experience of nutrition or of linking food to farming and growing

Grade C GCSE or equivalent in Maths & English, or certificated training in catering or a related

discipline

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Ability to work as part of a small team

Possess the ability to connect with children of all ages and value diversity

Self-driven, with the ability to follow instruction, be creative, prioritise and manage time effectively

A friendly and supportive colleague who fosters constructive and collaborative relationships across the Charity and seeks opportunities to share knowledge and learn from others

Calm under pressure

Desirable

Demonstrable commitment to continuous professional development

Knowledge of local and seasonal produce and factors impacting food supply

Additional Information

Safeguarding - This post is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.

Hours of work – This post is full time (35 hours per week), Monday to Friday, including early evening working.

Probationary period - The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of 1 month.

Proof of right to work - All appointments are conditional on the appointee providing existing proof of right to work according to current Home Office rules.

References - All appointments are conditional upon receipt of two satisfactory references.

Farms for City Children will give prior notification of the intention to contact referees.

Please click on Apply Now to see the Job Description and Person Specification for full details about the role and apply online.

We are unable to accept just cover letters and CVs.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE – DIRECT RECRUITMENT ONLY

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 1st April 2024 Interviews to be held on Monday 8th April 2024

Salary: £21,527pa

Hours Per Week: Full-Time, Permanent

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