Cook (Yate)
37.5 hours per week (ideally 10am – 6pm, Monday to Friday, with a 30 minute break)
Salary £24,655.05 per annum
About the role
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Cook to join one of our residential homes in Yate. The home provides residential care for up to 16 people in purpose-built, accessible accommodation in the centre of Yate.
Responsibilities
* develop healthy and balanced menus in consultation with the people living at the home
* prepare meals to meet individual's dietary needs, for example people with allergies or swallowing difficulties
* consider how people's religious and cultural backgrounds might impact on their dietary requirements
* Be proactive in gaining and acting on feedback from people about the meals provided
* monitor kitchen stocks and order supplies
* ensure high standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained
About you
You will have previous catering experience and will treat people with dignity. Have good listening/observational skills, number skills, and some awareness of the challenges faced by the people we support.
A catering qualification would be desirable but not essential as full training will be provided.
In return, you will receive:
· Competitive salary
· 28 days annual leave entitlement (including public holidays) pro-rata
· Annual leave entitlement increases up to 35 days with length of service (pro-rata)
· Excellent induction and training
· Company sick pay
· Company pension scheme
· Life assurance cover of twice your annual salary (subject to rules of the scheme)
· Family friendly/work-life balance policies
· Free DBS check every 3 years
· Occupational health provision
· Employee Assistance Programme – 24 hour access to a counselling and legal helpline
About Freeways
Freeways is a local charity that supports adults with learning disabilities. We are a highly regarded provider of residential care and supported living services. The aim of our services is to support people to become as independent as possible by helping them make choices, learn new skills and make links within their local community. We fundamentally believe that all people should be treated with respect and supported to be valued members of our communities irrespective of their ability.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
Unfortunately Freeways is unable to sponsor employment of international workers in this role. You will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK.
Closing Date: 03 September 2025
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Job Description
Job title: Cook
Accountable to: Service Manager
Job Purpose
Responsible for cooking food in the service making sure the people we support have highly nutritious and high quality food.
Making sure that food and drink is nutritious and appetising. The food has to meet the people we support's dietary and cultural needs including, for example, gluten free, low fat, soft food and vegetarian.
Key Responsibilities and Objectives
* Planning meals and menus with input from the people we support and considering their dietary needs.
* Storing food correctly and in line with food hygiene requirements.
* Making sure as little food as possible is wasted.
* Wash up, by hand or using a dishwasher.
* Keep kitchen areas and fridge/freezers clean.
* Some residents may have different dietary requirements which need to be catered for to ensure they are able to consume food and drink safely.
* Ordering food within the budget requirements in conjunction with the service manager.
* Working in line with good food hygiene and food safety practices.
Health and safety responsibilities:
Under the provisions contained in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the duty of every employee to:
* Take reasonable care of themselves and others at work
* To co-operate with Freeways and Freeways Trust as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal duty.
* Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided including personal protective equipment for health and safety or welfare at work.
Equal opportunities:
Freeways is committed to anti-discriminatory policies and practices and it is essential that the post holder is willing to make a positive contribution to their promotion and implementation.
This job description only contains the main duties relating to this post and does not describe in detail all the tasks required to carry them out.
Post holders may be asked to undertake any task commensurate with their pay grade.
All job descriptions will be subject to review as appropriate and may be altered in line with the requirements of the post. Any proposed changes will be discussed with the post holder prior to change.
Person Specification – Cook
Shortlisting will be based on the criteria listed below, which are derived from the Job Description. Applicants should therefore explain in their application how they think they meet each criterion using relevant examples from previous work experience and community/voluntary/leisure activities, as appropriate
Requirement Essential Desirable Assessment
Knowledge /Qualifications
* Catering qualification (level 2 or 3 or equivalent)
* Good standard of numeracy and literacy skills
* Holds up to date food hygiene certificate or willing to undertake
Experience
* Previous catering experience
* Previous customer service experience
* Experience working in a setting with adults with learning disabilities
Skills and Abilities
* Able and willing to work in hot conditions, physically fit for standing, moving and lifting.
* Flexible and adaptable
* Good customer service skills
* Ability to manage a small food budget
Other
* Understands and is committed to equality, diversity and Freeways values.
* Interested in food and cooking
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,655.00 per year
Work Location: In person