Cook

Job Description

Reports to:

Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor. Responsible to:
Catering Manager through appropriate Area Catering Manager. Responsible for:
Shared supervision of staff.

Job Purpose:

To assist the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor in all activities concerned with the preparation and cooking of meals. Team participation is essential to provide an efficient hygienic service, to achieve customer satisfaction and to promote sales within the unit.

• Skilled cooking activities connected with the full range of meals, including preparation of menus, portion control, provision of special dietary meals and function catering where appropriate.
• Assist with record keeping and control of hygiene, health and safety in the kitchen, including recording of temperatures.
• Provide direction and/or shared supervision of other employees.
• Operate service points including transported meals.
• Associated administrative duties, including:
• Planning of meals.
• Stock‑taking, organisation of stores and fridges and receipt of deliveries.
• General kitchen management in the absence of the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor.
• Shared supervision of other employees.
• Training of staff.
• Cash handling duties where appropriate.
• General kitchen duties, such as washing up, setting up and clearing equipment and tables, cleaning of the kitchen, dining room surrounds and equipment.
• Assist in the promotion of the service to parents, principals and customers to increase uptake.
• Secure premises as required.
• Perform duties as delegated in connection with service provision.

All duties must be carried out to comply with Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements,
Codes of Practice
, and in working conditions normally inherent in the particular job. Necessary administration must be completed as required. Duties will be carried out for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided they are within the competence of the employee. Promote and adhere to the values/ethos of the school. The description may be reviewed as circumstances change and is intended to provide guidelines.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

• You must clearly demonstrate, on your application form under each question, how and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. This applies to both essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

• Hold either a: NVQ Level 2 in food preparation and cooking or City & Guilds 706-1 & 706-2 or equivalent or higher relevant qualification; or two years’ experience of food preparation and cooking within a catering establishment.
• Knowledge of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
• Willingness to undertake job‑related training.

• Evidence of the ability to communicate and engage effectively with others as part of a team and with customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and team‑working skills.
• Effective organisational and planning skills and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Motivation towards providing excellent food and customer service.
• Evidence of values orientation reflecting EA’s ethos and values.

Disclosure of criminal background:
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. If recommended for a post that involves regulated activity, the Education Authority will require an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. The applicant will be responsible for the cost of the certificate. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

Applicant guidance notes and information about benefits can be viewed by clicking the respective links. The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.