School Cook

Full Job Description

At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing what makes you happy!

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job title:    School Cook

Location:   The Tower School, Epping

Salary:        Up to £20,000 per annum

Hours:        30 hours per week, Monday to Friday 7am-2pm

Contract:    Permanent, Term Time only

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a School Cook to join our close-knit team at The Tower School part of Options Autism and start working towards yours.

Job Purpose

To plan for and provide a freshly cooked and nutritious selection of meals to the pupils and staff of The Tower School, ensuring an efficient operation which is compliant with Food Safety regulations.

To uphold the professional code of conduct, support the school in accordance with the ethos, organisation and policies as a fully committed member of staff as detailed in the specific duties and core standards below. We are a school catering for up to 62 secondary pupils and 45 staff at any one time. 

Areas of Responsibility

Practical

• Supervising the kitchen operation in a small commercial kitchen
• Lead the food production in a small commercial kitchen
• Lead in all activities relating to meal production and service, including setting up of dining hall, and cleaning of both kitchen and hall after service with the support of a Kitchen Assistant
• Ensure the kitchen is compliant with all Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Legislation
• Ensure the kitchen is cleaned in line with Food and Hygiene requirements, including equipment, floors, walls
• Ensure equipment and machinery is maintained in a clean safe order
• Ensure the safe storage of food provisions, including recording deliveries, temperature checks and appropriate stock rotation
• Quality control of food, ensuring quality and presentation at service point
• Ensure that catering staff / kitchen assistants under the post holder’s direct supervision adhere to all policies and procedures and comply with food safety legislation. 

This is a permanent, term-time only role with the additional of 10 working days as directed and agreed with the school to support in deep clean and operational management of the kitchen.

Qualifications Required

• L2 Food and Hygiene Standards

About the school

The Tower School is an independent special day school for pupils ages 11 – 18 years who have a primary diagnosis of Autism. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who will often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life.

This opportunity is based in Epping, Essex, CM16 4BA and is located on Epping High Road within easy access of J26 of the M25 and Junction 5 of the M11. Epping is a lovely market town in Essex and just 17 miles (30km) from the centre of London. It is surrounded by Epping Forest and the River Roding and River Lea valleys. The school is just a 10-minute walk from Epping station on the London Undergrounds central line which will have you in London’s West End in under 50 minutes.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. 

As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support. 

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others .We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit

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