Chef - Crestwood Community School

Job Introduction

Crestwood Community School is one school, with two campuses serving central Eastleigh. We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic individual with experience within the catering industry who has a passion for food and quality customer service.  You will play an active role within the kitchen, working directly with the Catering Manager, catering assistants and students on a regular basis, so being a team player is essential. 

Duties will include food preparation, cooking meals throughout the day and serving the meals as well as maintaining a clean and safe kitchen environment. The role is also term time only, with no weekends and only 1 or 2 evenings where you would be required to work.

Main duties will include:-

• Check deliveries for quality and quantity and reconcile invoices;

• Ensure efficient stock control including stock rotation and maintenance of stock records;

• Ensure efficient control of budget;

• Devise and monitor guidelines on portion control and minimisation of waste;

• Maintain appropriate administrative recording;

• Ensure kitchen equipment is used, cleaned and monitored correctly;

• Ensure all food is served with the correct tools and is well presented. 

• Plan alternative meals for special dietary requirements, liaising with Health Service representatives where necessary;

• Adjust menus and quantities when required in liaison with senior managers of the school;

• Monitor standards of food preparation, cooking, serving and cleaning and take appropriate remedial action as and when required;

• Develop good customer relationships and effective communication within the school;

• Respond effectively to customer requests and complaints;

• Promote the catering service in order to exceed targets;

• Initiate developments to improve the catering service;

• Work closely with school management to develop the catering service to support wider school requirements;

• To meet with pupils of the School Council to promote Healthy Eating awareness and wider `green issues’ such as recycling;

• Plan and provide work experience for Year 10 pupils for two weeks per annum;

• Prepare the required number of food products, following specified menus;

• Ensure portion control and nutritional standards are met;

• Prepare cooking ingredients;

• Cook food ensuring all meals are ready on time;

• Maintain food at the correct temperature;

• Produce a range of food to ensure different dietary requirements are met;

• Prepare food for ad-hoc functions during evenings, weekends or school holidays;

• Serve food following specified portion control guidelines and special dietary requirements;

• Positively encourage customers to try a variety of food and seek feedback from pupils and teachers on products and service;

• Operate tills/vending machines/cashless card systems where necessary, following strict guidelines;

• Ensure set up guidelines are followed in relation to the washing up of all eating utensils and equipment, sterilising where required;

• Ensure cleaning duties are completed, following daily and weekly rotas, to ensure health and safety and hygiene standards are maintained.

We continue to be a ‘good’ school.  The report stated that at Crestwood “there is a welcoming, friendly atmosphere”.  They also said that “teachers and support staff, including those in the early stages of their career, are proud to work at the school. They particularly value school leader's careful consideration of their workload and well-being so that they can focus their efforts fully on pupils’ education.” In addition Ofsted report that “many pupils, staff and parents describe the school as a ‘big family’. This is a happy school, where staff and students want to be. The #Crestwoodfamily pervades through everything we do

As a school we take staff well being seriously. We offer staff the following:

• wellbeing weeks, with no commitments scheduled after school

• free lunch every day

• free tea and coffee

• half termly cooked breakfasts 

• accrued inset days, taken as twilights, giving staff an additional 4 days off a year

• One well being day per year  (during term-time), to be taken at their chosen time (after a qualifying period and subject to attendance) 

• weekly thank you bulletin

• birthday cards

• heads discretionary leaves of absence for family events

• acts of random kindness

• access to mental health first aiders

Please note we cannot accept a CV as a means of application. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Please call Hannah Gover, Catering Manager, Tel: 023 8064 1232 for an informal chat. 

Person Specification:

 Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.