About this role
Job summary
Job Title: Residential Care Home Cook
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week; mornings, evenings and weekends
Salary: £26,847 - £28,153
Location: Lincolnshire Secure Unit, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Closing Date: Monday 30th November 2026
Lincolnshire Secure Unit is a Secure Children's home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
We are looking for a creative, innovative and resourceful Residential Care Home Cook to join our highly passionate and dedicated care team who provide a safe, nurturing and caring environment for children and young people. We look after children and young people between the ages of 11 and 18 who are placed with us through the Youth Custody Service or for Welfare reasons.
Due to recent changes in immigration law in the UK we are unable to offer skilled worker visa sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the requirements.
Main duties of the job
About the Role
We have one full time position available (37 hours a week), working mornings, evenings and weekends. There will be occasions when additional hours would be offered, to support with covering service needs.
You will
- Have responsibility for planning and preparing weekly menus for both staff and young people
- Prepare and understand healthy, varied, freshly made meals for a range of dietary requirements; Vegetarian, Halal, gluten free and coeliac, as well as other specific dietary requirements
- Keep accurate records and follow food hygiene standards
- Maintain and undertake the daily and weekly cleaning tasks within the kitchen area
- Complete all mandatory LCC training
About You
As a Residential Care Home Cook you will be an integral part of the team. You will need to be prepared to develop positive relationships with all our children and young people, gain an understanding of their individual needs, ensuring you have compassion and empathy at all times.
All Cooks must work within our core values: kindness, nurture, care, respect, empathy and compassion. We will provide you with the necessary training that you will need to fulfil your role and support you through a full induction program. To apply you will need to be;
- Enthusiastic
- Resilient
- Innovative
- Flexible
- A good team player
About us
Lincolnshire County Council, is one of the largest employers in the county. We are an organisation that embraces diversity, innovation and progress. We value our people and want to ensure that we can support you in joining and growing with us.
We will view you as an integral member of our community and recognise that your well-being is paramount. To show our appreciation, weve crafted a competitive package designed to not only acknowledge your hard work but also foster a healthy work-life balance.
From health benefits and retirement plans, we strive to provide a package that supports well-being and financial stability and that meets the diverse needs of our workforce.
We want everyone who works with us to feel included and celebrate their uniqueness. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promoting good relations for both employee and for the people of Lincolnshire.
People often say every day is a learning day and at LCC a culture of learning is something we really believe in. We recognise the importance of supporting your learning and development and can offer a variety of different learning opportunities depending on what is right for you and the organisation. This could be through your everyday tasks, through hands-on experience, structured programs, formal qualifications, coaching, or informal learning opportunities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In liaison with the staff team and the children's care plans, purchase for and prepare meals for the young people, taking into account dietary requirements such as Gluten, Dairy and Additive free meals. To maintain kitchen hygiene and comply with Health and Safety and Environmental Health legislation.
MAIN DUTIES
1
Draw up weekly menus taking into account of special dietary needs and prepare meals taking promoting healthy eating. The post holder will be required to use initiative and source information to support menu planning and demonstrate creativity in producing a balanced range of food.
2
Purchase menu ingredients to a budget.
3
Maintain records as required.
4
Maintain food hygiene standards in compliance with current Food Safety legislation and comply with the requirements of appropriate and relevant Health and Safety legislation, taking action to minimise risk of accidents or harm to people, plant or property. The post holder is responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen and equipment and ensuring personal use of Personal Protective Equipment.
5
Ensure all kitchen equipment and utensils are maintained and used safely.
6
Ensure adequate food stocks are maintained and rotated.
7
To provide general dining room duties to include laying of tables, serving of meals, assisting children to make choices, clearing away and cleaning the dining room after meals.
8
To assist if required in the supervision of young people. The post holder will be in direct contact with young people who may display challenging behaviour whilst carrying out duties.
9
To work a flexible shift pattern to meet the needs of the service
10
Work environment
The post holder is required to produce meals at agreed times and may be required to change menus at short notice.
Normal physical requirements undertaken whilst cooking, washing, stock rotation, putting away shopping are involved in this post, including bending, lifting, pushing and twisting.
The post holder may be exposed to bodily fluids whilst undertaking cleaning duties and may be exposed to other unpleasant conditions.
The post holder may be exposed to challenging behaviour by the young people using the service and may be asked to assist in the management of this.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Knowledge of special dietary
- Requirements
- Experience in a catering role
- NVQ2 in Food Hygiene
- Experience of working in a team
- Experience of working with
- vulnerable people
- Knowledge and understanding of
- health and safety
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Lincolnshire County Council
Address
3rd Floor, Lancaster House
36 Orchard Street
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN1 1XX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://jobs.lincolnshire.gov.uk/home.html (Opens in a new tab)