Job Description
Main purpose of the role
The post holder will work across all 28 of our care homes as a Flexibank cook leading a team to run the catering operations within the Home. This includes preparing high quality home cooked, fresh, nutritional meals and catering for any dietary and cultural needs.
About The Role
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To direct a team of kitchen colleagues to deliver a first-class catering service to the residents within our Care Home.
2. To understand the individual nutritional needs and choices of residents at all times.
3. To follow menus in consultation with the Home Manager, residents, families, catering committees following best practice guidance.
4. To prepare, cook and serve meals, ensuring that all special needs are fully considered and catered for in accordance with residents’ dietary requirements and personal choice.
5. To plan and deliver set four weekly menus, ensuring any substitutions have prior authorisation from the Home Manager or designated individual, and any allergen changes are communicated effectively.
6. To be responsible for the catering budget and work within the agreed catering budget.
7. Regularly engage with, and seek feedback from, residents, relatives, visitors and colleagues in order to continually improve the residents’ quality of life and level of service provided.
8. To prepare any beverages and snacks throughout the day, around the needs and choices of residents.
9. To ensure the quantity and quality of all food served is to the required nutritional standards.
10. To ensure compliance with the Company Food Safety Management System and maintain a safe kitchen.
11. Responsible for stock taking, stock rotation and storage of stock, including checking and receiving deliveries.
12. To monitor and replenish as required all kitchen and food stocks, in conjunction with the Home Manager, and maintain records of the same, in line with Company procedures.
13. Responsible for the presentation of the dining areas.
14. To ensure that all stock records are kept up to date in line with company procedures.
15. To supervise all other kitchen colleagues and alert the Home Manager to any difficulties.
16. To ensure that high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and food preparation are maintained at all times to meet environmental food safety standards.
17. To be diligent in ensuring any defects of equipment are reported to the Home Manager and Maintenance Person in a timely manner.
General Responsibilities
· To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others whilst at work, including colleagues, residents and visitors to the Home and for alerting the officers responsible to any hazards or potential risks to health and safety.
· To be fully conversant with the Beaumont policies relating to Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Whistleblowing.
· To ensure compliance with the Beaumont Information Governance Policy, maintaining an appropriate level of confidentiality around issues that may be personal or commercially sensitive.
· Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships both with colleagues, residents, visitors and other health professionals and agencies.
· To act as an ambassador for the Beaumont company Vision and Values.
· To promote equality and diversity at all times and across all work activities.
· To adhere to Beaumont policies and procedures.
· Attend mandatory training days / courses, on or off site, as and when required
· To undertake any other duties and accountabilities which would be lawful, reasonable and appropriate to the role.
Essential Criteria
* Nutrition Science for the elderly or equivalent
* 2 years relevant experience as a Chef or Cook
* Chef Qualification
* IDDSI knowledge
* Experience with modified diets
* Food Hygiene Certificate
* Health & Safety Awareness
* Hazard Reporting Protocols
* HACCP Documentation
* RIDDOR Awareness
* Food Storage
* Basic First Aid
Skills
* Effective verbal and written communication
* Leadership
* Team Management (Kitchen)
* Stock Management
* Planning and Preparing Menus
* Compiling and placing orders
* Special dietary requirements
* Altered textured diets
* Time management and meeting deadlines
* Budget Management
* Equipment Management
* Food & Kitchen Presentation
* Continuous Personal Development
* Good interpersonal skills
* Coordination / multitasking
Abilities
* Reliable
* Remains calm under pressure
* Work unsupervised
* Caring Attitude
* Innovative
* Committed to Quality
* Coaching and Mentoring skills
* Quickly acts on feedback
Please note permanent Beaumont employees cannot join our Flexibank team unless they have had a minimum of 3 months break in service from leaving their permanent position.
Skills Needed
About The Company
Beaumont Care Homes have residential and nursing homes across Northern Ireland; in Belfast, Bangor, Ballymena, Comber, Donaghadee, Dunmurray, Jordanstown, Hillsborough, Holywood, Lisburn, and Newtownabbey – So there’s always a Beaumont Care Home nearby. We aim to provide a safe, clean, relaxed and homely environment for all our residents, where care, well-being and comfort are of prime importance and where our staff feel is the best place to work in the care sector. The atmosphere in all our homes is welcoming and inviting whilst our healthcare staff are professional and ready to care, delivering a home-from-home feeling that helps the transition from home or hospital easier and less stressful. Beaumont Care Home’s staff undergo regular training to guarantee they provide the best one-to-one and person-centred care possible. All our staff are encouraged to develop their skills and continue on a career pathway. As a company, we believe in healthy, homemade food, and our trained chefs prepare tasty, exciting, and appealing meals to various tastes, regardless of appetite or culture.
Company Culture
Beaumont Care Homes offer varied activities, from trips out and summer fetes to indoor activities including arts and crafts, pamper sessions and visiting entertainment. As well as visiting dog therapists and other animals, intergenerational activities are encouraged involving local nurseries and schools. Our team of healthcare professionals and the safe, comfortable accommodation at Beaumont Care Homes Support people living with dementia, whilst also providing nursing care along with other specialist care services. We can also offer respite care in our homes. We want people to join Beaumont Care who wish to work with older and vulnerable people. Ideally, we are looking for someone who is caring and has a can-do attitude. Is that person you? Our senior managers have often begun their working life as carers, which we recognise are essential to our service, and then climbed the career ladder to become Home and Regional Managers.
Desired Criteria
Required Criteria
* Nutrition Science for the elderly or equivalent
* 2 years relevant experience as a Chef or Cook
* Chef Qualification ]
* IDDSI knowledge
* Experience with modified diets
* Food Hygiene Certificate
* Health & Safety Awareness
* Hazard Reporting Protocols
* RIDDOR Awareness
* Food Storage
* Basic First Aid
* HACCP Documentation
Closing DateWednesday 20th August, 2025