Job summary
- Main area
- Catering
- Grade
- Non AfC
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- Trac ID 6614048
- Employer
- Havens Hospices
- Employer type
- Voluntary Sector
- Site
- Havens Hospices
- Town
- Southend on Sea
- Salary
- £23,874.97 £23,874.97 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/07/2025 08:00
Employer heading
Multi-Site Cook
Non AfC
Job overview
Join our team as a Cook at Fair Havens – where every meal makes a difference!
Are you passionate about cooking and making people feel cared for through food? We’re looking for a dedicated Cook to join our well-established Facilities Team at Fair Havens Hospice, based in our modern, purpose-built bistro next to the stunning Priory Park in Southend.
In this rewarding role, you'll play a key part in providing high-quality, nutritious meals for our patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers. From preparing fresh daily menus to serving a variety of wholesome meals and snacks, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of everyone who walks through our doors.
We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their food, enjoys working in a team, and is committed to delivering meals with care and compassion.
This is a full-time opportunity to join a friendly and supportive environment where your culinary skills will truly make a difference.
Main duties of the job
You will also liaise directly with patients and their families, offering friendly and informed guidance on meal selections that reflect individual dietary needs, preferences, and any medical or cultural requirements. This important aspect of the role helps ensure a personalised dining experience across both Havens Hospices sites, supporting our commitment to compassionate and holistic care.
Working for our organisation
At Havens Hospices, we care for children, young people and adults with complex or incurable conditions. Our specialist Care Teams can support them and their family living throughout illness, death and bereavement in the comfort of their own home and through our hospice services, Fair Havens and Little Havens.
Working at Havens Hospices allows you to give the gift of time to patients and families, creating memories. Although you may not be giving direct care to our patients, your contribution will have an immediate effect on our care services.
In return for your expertise and passion, you will receive a competitive salary package, and most of all, by making the most of every day you work at Havens Hospices you’ll be helping us continue ‘Making every day count’ for those who need us most.
At Havens Hospices we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and patients and expect all colleagues to share this commitment.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Liaise with patients and families to provide friendly, helpful guidance on meal choices, ensuring individual dietary needs, preferences, and cultural considerations are fully respected.
- Build supportive relationships with those in our care to help create a positive, person-centred dining experience.
- Support dietary planning across both Havens Hospices sites – Little Havens and Fair Havens – adapting meal selections as required to meet the unique nutritional needs of each individual.
- Prepare, cook, and serve a wide variety of meals and snacks for patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers.
- Work from our daily menu choices to ensure that every meal is fresh, well-balanced, and tailored to support health and wellbeing.
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene and presentation, helping to create a warm, welcoming environment in our modern bistro spaces.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
Desirable criteria
- Experience of dealing with special dietary requirements
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience in working within the kitchen of an organisation, preparing and handling food
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Good level of IT Skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, Excel and Outlook
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Samantha Christie
- Job title
- Soft Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01702220350
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