Chef

Ace of Clubs is a family-like community providing transformative support for those who are homeless, vulnerable and otherwise marginalised in our area. At our centre on St Alphonsus Road, we provide for the immediate needs of those in desperate circumstances with safe shelter, food, warmth, clothing, laundry and showers. The Ace of Clubs team is skilled and focused on linking people in with a wide range of services including accommodation, welfare, rehab, training, healthcare, and many others.

From this welcoming start, and through friendly and genuine care, we seek to build relationships with people. The team at Ace of Clubs is skilled and focused on linking people in with a wide range of services, including accommodation, welfare, rehab, training, healthcare and many others. Ace of Clubs is a place where those who are alone can find acceptance, a sense of belonging and renewed purpose to see their lives restored.

Job Description: Chef

Job Title:                     Chef

Salary:                         £24,000 (negotiable)

Job Location:             Ace of Clubs, Clapham, SW4 7AS

Hours:                         Full-time (37.5 hours per week) 8 am to 3.30 pm

Reports to:                 Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking

Holiday:                      20 days per year plus 8 days’ time off in lieu of bank holidays

Contract Length:       Permanent (subject to 6 months’ probationary period)

Purpose of Job.

The post holder is responsible to the Manager of Caseworking and Operations on a day-to-day basis but ultimately is accountable to the Director and Company Secretary. The purpose of the post is to implement and supervise all aspects of kitchen activity and control under the direction of the Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking. Demand for our meal service can range from 80 to 185 people per day.

Key Duties.

Cooking.

Ensure that a healthy and diverse menu is prepared daily.

Stay abreast of up-to-date food safety procedure and demonstrate this in practice.

To make effective use of food donations to produce the daily meal, ensuring that all stock is maximised as far as possible and keeping expenditure within budget.

Ensure all stock is rotated, and expired items (from delivery or in storage) are disposed of.

Demonstrate a strong awareness in daily working practices of contamination control.

Confidently oversee, record and respond to queries related to allergen management.

Handling all queries and issues related to meals, the menu and stock levels and constructively respond to any food complaints.

Ensure that the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety are maintained in the kitchen, tea bar and food storage room.

Contribute to themed events with appropriate menus.

Kitchen Management and Administrative.

Ensure that thorough record keeping is completed daily, including but not limited to temperature records and cleaning schedules.

Cooperate with daily, weekly and monthly checks conducted by Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking and respond to any arising issues.

Report any maintenance issues in good time to the Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking.

A broad understanding of various Health and Safety practices, including Fire Safety, and making necessary changes or suggested changes to practice in light of compliance with relevant legislation and procedures.

Cooperate fully with the statutory inspections and implement recommendation as appropriate.

Volunteer Management.

Effectively delegate responsibilities to volunteers and provide an appropriate level of day-to-day support and oversight.

Assist the Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking in ensuring adequate volunteer support for the foodservice.

Supervise compliance to Food Safety and COSHH procedures amongst the volunteer team, and address any concerns directly with volunteers, reporting failure to respond to concerns to Manager of Centre Operations & Caseworking.

Other.

To undertake other duties as may be determined from time to time within the post’s general scope and be aware that social activities connected with the centre may require work attendance outside regular working hours.

Working on Christmas day will specifically and always be required.

Key relationships.

Internal: Trustees Management Committee, Director and Company Secretary, Manager of Centre Operations and Caseworking, Homelessness Caseworkers, Driver, Volunteers.

External: Members of the public, donors, charitable organisations, charitable partners.

Person Specification.

Qualifications.

Good basic education to GCSE.

Catering diploma (e.g., City & Guilds/BTEC) and Health and Safety and Food Hygiene certificates.

Experience.

Essential

Experience providing healthy and diverse meals for large numbers of people.

Understanding of HACCP systems and Food Safety Management.

Understanding of COSHH regulation and how to apply it to the Ace of Clubs kitchen environment.

Able to demonstrate appropriate use and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Desirable

Significant catering experience as a chef in a kitchen environment in the charitable sector, ideally in an outreach project.

Experience supervising volunteers and delegating responsibilities to others.

Skills and competencies.

Strong and proven organisational skills.

Competent in written and spoken English and able to complete statutory food safety paperwork to the required level of detail.

Ability to prepare and serve well-presented and attractive meals to individual requirements.

Understanding of safe management of food allergens.

Personal attributes.

Ability to work on own initiative.

Able to clearly and confidently explain procedures and boundaries to volunteers.

Able to raise standards through innovation and new ideas.

Able to respond professionally to challenging behaviour and conflict amongst our service user group.

Able to form positive relationships with colleagues, volunteers, service users and members of the public.

Other.

Cross-cultural sensitivity to, and understanding of, the needs of Ace of Club’s client group.

Good diplomatic skills.

Recruitment process. 

Stage 1: Stage 1: Submit C.V. and cover letter through Travel Weekly & The Caterer, online according to the deadline of 16th April 2021.

Stage 2: Short-listed candidates invited to preliminary interview with the Manager of Centre Operations and Caseworking. As the Ace of Clubs is an essential service, the interview will take place face to face, following Covid-secure precautions.

Stage 3: Finalists invited to a final interview with the Ace of Clubs Director and Manager of Centre Operations and Caseworking.

This job description will be reviewed not less than annually as part of the appraisal process.