Newhaven Community Development Association

SUSSEX COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Job Description:

Work pattern:

25 hours per week Monday - Friday Based – Crowborough Community Centre

The Organisation

Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) was founded in 1997 and runs a range of projects aimed at supporting the involvement of the whole of the community. Funding comes from a range of sources including European, Lottery and charitable trusts as well as contracts to deliver services and social enterprise projects across East Sussex. These include:

Employability – supporting unemployed people across East Sussex, specialising in those who find it hardest to find and sustain paid work.

Advice & Inclusion – delivering a variety of services aimed at promoting inclusion for BME communities; supporting people at risk of anti-social behaviour and hate crime; and offering access to a range of specialist advice provision through partners.

Health & Wellbeing – delivering a range of services around food; green and open spaces; promoting physical activity and mental health and wellbeing in the community.

Community Development – delivering targeted and general Youth provision locally; raising the profile of communities in which we work through regular community events; offering a suite of Family Learning and Inclusion activities for parents and carers of Under 5’s. We also manage Denton Island Nursery which Ofsted has registered as ‘Outstanding’.

Older People – SCDA’s newest work area which offers high quality day care, activities and other services for older people both referred via ESCC Adult Social Care and self-referred.

SCDA has a strong track record in partnership working and in the quality of service delivery to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the community: helping the community help itself. The context of the job

The organisation, though fairly small in terms of staff, continues to grow. As a result of its size, however, SCDA expects all members of staff to demonstrate flexibility within their specified job role and offer continued support to all other team members as and when required.

This role is Monday – Friday although a limited amount of weekend / evening work may be necessary to fulfil the function of the post.

The Café The Community Café is based within the Crowborough Community Centre, which is a thriving, well-equipped venue for community and business activities close to the town centre. A variety of activities take place at the centre from specialist services to art exhibitions and dance classes. The Café aims to offer a selection of light meals and refreshments that meet the needs of all community centre users. The café’s initial opening hours will be 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday. A catering service will also

JD/PS Cook: Crowborough Community Cafe Feb 2016 Page 2 be offered for events held in the Community Centre, which may require occasional evening and weekend working. It is anticipated that the post holder will contribute to the continued development and range of food services available at the Café.

Job Overview Direct the preparation, seasoning and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, sandwiches, cakes and other foods. Plan menus, order supplies, keep records and accounts. Supervise and participate in cooking and baking and the preparation of foods. Write weekly schedules for work flow, menus, food ordering, food storage and kitchen hygiene as appropriate. Analyse food sales and purchases and plan and price menu items accordingly in conjunction with Catering Manager. Check off all purchased supplies for quality and account for each delivered item. Routinely undertake itemised stock check of all consumables and equipment.

This job description indicates only the main duties and responsibilities of the role. It is not intended as an exhaustive list. Main Tasks

Food Purchasing, Preparation, Storage Handling & Disposal  Order or requisition all necessary food and other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.  Investigate, as appropriate, best value opportunities on purchases, using local suppliers where possible  Prepare, cook and serve hot and cold meals and beverages  Cater for special dietary requirements as advised and take into account the preferences of individual customers.  Check quality of raw and cooked food products to ensure standards are met.  Incorporate seasonal produce into meal planning to produce a seasonally changing menu  Check the quality and quantity of received / purchased products.  Ensure food storage facilities and methods comply with relevant safety guidelines.  Keep detailed records of food orders and purchases  Keep detailed records of food storage in line with environmental health guidelines.  Ensure detailed records are maintained of any food disposals  Ensure food disposals are undertaken in line with environmental health guidelines.

Communication  Liaise with Catering Manager when planning / costing menus in order to provide a balanced and nutritious diet, a varied menu and to make the best use of available fresh foods.  Work with the CCC Centre Manager, and where necessary event organisers, to ensure event catering bookings are fulfilled in line with the organisers requirements  Participate in staff meetings as required.  Demonstrate excellent customer service skills and communication at all times

JD/PS Cook: Crowborough Community Cafe Feb 2016 Page 3 Budgetary / Financial Control  Maintain accurate records of food supplies and freezer / fridge temperatures.  Ensure stock rotation, order stock and check deliveries as required.  Reconcile money received on a daily basis and bank money.

Staff Management  Prepare staff rota for kitchen and café.  Interview staff, with Catering Manager and HR, as required and in line with SCDA recruitment policy.  Supervise and oversee staff members as directed by Catering Manager.

Training & Development  Attend mandatory training and other courses as required by SCDA  Maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence  Oversee and Instruct staff members in the correct use of equipment, systems and procedures in the kitchen and café.

Health & Safety All staff members have responsibility to maintain the health and safety of themselves and others within the performance of their duties in accordance with SCDA health and safety policies and to undertake specific health and safety responsibilities as necessary.

 Ensure statutory Health & Safety standards in the kitchen and café at all times.  Ensure all crockery, cutlery and equipment is cleaned and stored appropriately and that the overall cleaning of the kitchen area (and where appropriate the dining areas) is carried out effectively.  Report immediately to Centre Manager any illness of an infectious nature or accident incurred by a customer, colleague, self or another.  Understand and ensure the implementation of the centre’s Health & Safety Policy and Emergency Fire Procedures.  Report to line manager and centre manager and faulty appliances, damaged equipment, furniture or any potential hazard.  Promote safe working practice in the community café and overall centre.

Recording and reporting Maintain accurate records on site to cover the following:  Workplace accident book  Historical and future menu records  Fridge / Freezer Temperature log  Number of daily meals prepared and served to day centre customers  Quantity and type of food sold to other customers  Record all historical and ongoing food orders  Record all historical and ongoing food deliveries  Record all current food stocks  Maintain and record cleaning schedules  Record equipment maintenance schedules  Undertake routine equipment stock records and re-order as appropriate.

General responsibilities:

JD/PS Cook: Crowborough Community Cafe Feb 2016 Page 4  Promote a positive personal and professional profile within the local community, ensuring the good reputation of the Café and the Community Centre at all times.  Ensure that information of a confidential nature gained in the course of duty is not divulged to third parties.  Adhere to SCDA’s policies and procedures at all times.  Carry out any other duties, which may reasonably be required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Sussex Community Development Association is working towards equality and has policies relating to the equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery. All staff are expected to comply with these policies.

This job description will be reviewed from time to time or as necessary and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the organisation. It will also be used as the basis for the determination of objectives and the content is subject to annual review.

Signed by post holder:…………………….. Dated:……………………….

Person specification

Essential:  Can demonstrate experience in a commercial kitchen environment  Significant experience in customer service environment  Excellent customer service skills  Creative approach to menu planning  Relevant food hygiene qualifications  Previous team leading experience, including absence management, staff rotas and managing performance  Ability to work creatively and innovatively  Ability to work as part of a team  Good written communication skills  Ability to work with minimal supervision but as part of a team  Ability to deliver product to specified deadlines.  Ability to motivate and enthuse others

Desirable:  Qualified to level 3 in professional cookery, professional cookery diploma or equivalent or Level 2 with a willingness to work towards a level 3 qualification.  Adaptable IT skills including office applications  Local knowledge of catering suppliers and distribution services  Enthusiasm for applying skills to the third sector  Proven track record of delivery / managing priorities in a catering environment  Understanding and commitment to equal opportunities good practice

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

JD/PS Cook: Crowborough Community Cafe Feb 2016 Page 5