Catering Assistant

Overview and Responsibilities

Catering Assistant – Aurora Boveridge

Location: Cranborne, Dorset

Hourly Rate: £12.87 - £13.10

Salary: £22,996 - £23,407 - actual salary, based on experience and qualifications

Hours: 40 hours a week, term time only (39 weeks)

At Aurora Boveridge College, we prepare our students for adult life, through person-centred academic and vocational study programmes leading to independent living with employment or further study. By working together, we increase resilience, confidence, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and well-being: the cornerstones on which strong and successful long-term futures are built.

Your Role as a Catering Assistant

As our Catering Assistant, you’ll support the Cook in the smooth and efficient running of our kitchen. From preparing meals and packed lunches to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food safety, you’ll play a vital part in keeping our community well-fed and cared for.

This is a hands-on, varied role where no two days are the same, and where your contribution will directly support our students' wellbeing and daily routine.

 You’ll Be:

• Assisting with the preparation and cooking of meals to the required standard and at the required times.

• Preparing packed lunches for offsite educational activities.

• Covering the Cook’s duties in their absence when required.

• Ensuring compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, and statutory kitchen regulations. This will involve recording opening an closing checks such as food/fridge/freezer temperatures and other regulatory checks.

• Keeping all work areas, surfaces and equipment clean, hygienic, and well maintained, following agreed cleaning schedules.

• Supporting with menu planning, ordering supplies, and accepting deliveries.

• Carrying out any reasonable tasks requested by management to support kitchen operations.

Skills and Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• A good standard of written and verbal communication.

• Experience maintaining stocks of fresh, frozen and ambient food items.

• Working knowledge of kitchen equipment and cleaning routines.

• Awareness of Health & Safety legislation including COSHH, manual handling and food hygiene.

• The ability to work to deadlines and prioritise tasks effectively.

• A flexible, proactive approach with the ability to identify and report issues.

• Strong teamwork skills and the confidence to escalate concerns when needed.

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to work towards).

• Good attendance, reliability and a strong work ethic.

• Previous experience in a busy kitchen (desirable, not essential).

Benefits and Additional Information

🌟What’s on Offer at Aurora?

We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

📚 Grow with Us – Training & Development

Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.

💸 Save Money on Everyday Essentials

With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:

• Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more

• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme

💰 Competitive Pay & Reward

We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy:

• Enhanced Annual Leave

• Company Sick Pay

• Enhanced Pension

• Life Assurance

🩺 24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household

Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.

🦷 UK Health Cash Plan

Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too!

🧠 Employee Assistance Programme

Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:

• Freephone counselling (available 24/7)

• Online tools and resources

👯‍♀️ Refer a Friend – Earn £1,000!

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded!
(*Terms apply)

🍽️ Free Lunch While on Shift
Enjoy free lunch while working at Beeches School and Boveridge College – just one of the ways we look after our team.

How to apply?

For candidates that haven’t worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.