Catering Manager

Position:          Catering Manager/Cook

Location:         Heath Farm School, Charing Heath, Ashford, Kent.

Salary:             £17,000 per annum

Hours:             30 hours per week (8.00am – 2.00pm, Monday to Friday)

Contract:         Permanent.

About the role

We are seeking to appoint our first Catering Manager to oversee our in-house meal provision, working in our newly constructed kitchen and dining room which is due for completion in December 2021. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop a service from scratch, and fully configure it to meet the needs of our students and staff. The Catering Manager will have the opportunity to help recruit their assistant and equip the new kitchen with the resources that it needs for successful operation.

About the Group

We are part of Acorn Education and Care and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career. We provide Education and Care across a number of schools and residential homes nationally. Our specialist SEN provision, coupled with our expertise within residential care means we offer thousands of vulnerable children and young people across the UK a holistic, wraparound care, residential and education service, empowering them with everything they need to flourish. It is by no accident that 94% of our homes are rated as Outstanding or Good. We welcome staff who share our commitment to help children experience better days and better lives. Through ongoing development and training, we ensure our staff are well prepared for their jobs and given every opportunity to extend their skills. Acorn Education and Care is part of the Outcomes First Group.

About the School

It is an exciting time to join Heath Farm School. Under the leadership of the forward-thinking head teacher, the school and its team have recently redesigned and created a purposeful and unique ‘Heath Farm Curriculum’ that fully meets the holistic needs of our students. We are now in the stage of fully embedding this across the school. We are an independent SEN school that offers a unique and stimulating environment where every pupil is able to make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education.

Our students present with a wide range of needs, including social and emotional issues, learning difficulties, mental health problems and associated conditions. However, they can enjoy extraordinary outcomes and be happy at school. There are currently 100 students on role and a staff team of approximately the same number. The construction of the new kitchen and dining facility aligns with our vision of community, and students and staff will be encouraged to eat together at lunchtime. Also new for 2021 is a horticulture programme, which will see students planting and nurturing fruits and vegetables which will be available for the kitchen to use in the production of meals.

What can we offer you?

• A commitment to support you in developing new skills through a wide range of professional development opportunities and experiences.

• The opportunity to make a huge contribution to the education and lives of children

• A friendly and inclusive working environment.

Who are we looking for?

Above all else we are looking for someone with the right attitude and outlook, combined with the appropriate practical skills ideally learned in a commercial kitchen. The job is more than just cooking meals, and so the willingness to get involved the whole-school ethos is essential. How to Apply Visits to the school are welcomed, and we are certain that you will be even keener to apply once you see the fabulous and caring approach, we take with our students along with our excellent and modern site. To arrange a visit please call Liz Thorne on 01233 712030.

Acorn Education and Care are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to fully Enhanced DBS. We expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment and strive to achieve the best outcome possible for everybody in our care. A full application form must be completed with all employment dates accurate and gaps in employment accounted for.