Cook

Starrycare is seeking an experienced and passionate Cook to prepare nutritious, high-quality meals for service users across our client sites. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, preparing, and serving meals that meet dietary, nutritional, cultural, and individual care requirements while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen cleanliness.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve nutritious meals to a consistently high standard.
• Plan menus in accordance with dietary requirements, nutritional guidelines, and client preferences.
• Cater for special diets, allergies, and cultural or religious meal requirements.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and infection prevention throughout the kitchen.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety, HACCP, and Health & Safety regulations.
• Monitor food stock levels, place orders, and ensure proper stock rotation to minimise waste.
• Store food safely and ensure correct temperature control procedures are followed.
• Maintain kitchen equipment and report any faults promptly.
• Keep accurate records relating to food temperatures, cleaning schedules, and stock where required.
• Work collaboratively with care staff to ensure residents' nutritional needs are met.
• Support and supervise Kitchen or Catering Assistants where applicable.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Professional Cookery, Catering, or an equivalent qualification (preferred).
• Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 (Level 3 is advantageous).
• Good understanding of HACCP, Food Safety, and Health & Safety legislation.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

Requirements

• Previous experience working as a Cook or Chef, preferably within care homes, supported living, hospitals, schools, or contract catering.
• Experience preparing meals for multiple people while maintaining quality and consistency.
• Knowledge of special diets, allergens, and nutritional requirements.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to high standards.
• Flexible and reliable, with willingness to work shifts, weekends, and bank holidays where required.

Benefits

• Competitive pay rates.
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Ongoing training and career development.
• Supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunity to work across a variety of client settings.