Aurora Meldreth and Orchard Manor

Situated in Meldreth, around ten miles south of Cambridge on the Cambridgeshire / Hertfordshire border, Aurora Meldreth and Orchard Manor comprises three service provisions:

• Aurora Meldreth Manor Children's Home,
• Aurora Meldreth Manor School and
• Aurora Orchard Manor Residential Home.

Together, the services provide education, care and therapeutic support for young people with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex needs.

Set within 12 acres, the site includes music and art rooms, rebound therapy, hydrotherapy, hard and soft outdoor spaces, Forest School, adapted kitchens, and sensory rooms.

We are currently seeking a Catering Assistant to join our friendly catering team across our services in Meldreth.

The role:

This is a hands-on and varied role in which food safety, accuracy, teamwork and flexibility are essential. You will support the preparation, cooking, finishing and transport of meals, including individual dietary, allergen and texture modified requirements. You will also help maintain excellent standards of cleanliness and hygiene within the main site kitchen, including its food preparation, storage and serving areas.

You will contribute to a positive and respectful mealtime experience for the young people we support. All food preparation and kitchen work takes place in the main site kitchen. The role includes responding positively when priorities change and supporting catering colleagues with the full range of reasonable catering duties. This may include providing appropriate cover for the Cook when required and when competent to do so, following agreed menus and procedures.

Key duties:

• Supporting the Cook and Catering Manager with meal preparation, cooking, portioning, presentation and service.
• Following individual dietary, allergy, texture and cultural requirements accurately, including Natasha's Law and local allergen procedures.
• Preparing packed lunches and food for off-site activities when required.
• Transporting meals by trolley from the main site kitchen to the agreed delivery points for the three service provisions.
• Keeping the main site kitchen and its associated preparation, storage and serving areas clean and hygienic, including washing equipment and cleaning surfaces and floors.
• Receiving, checking, rotating, labelling and storing deliveries correctly.
• Completing required food safety, temperature, cleaning, equipment and maintenance records.
• Working flexibly within the catering team and stepping in to support the full range of main kitchen duties when operational needs or staffing arrangements change.
• Reporting concerns, defects, hazards or any uncertainty about dietary or allergen requirements promptly.

Duties will vary, you must expect to diversify and lend a hand wherever is required.

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene & Safety (Catering) – essential.
• Working knowledge of health and safety legislation, including COSHH regulations, manual handling and food hygiene procedures, and the requirements relating to food preparation.
• Knowledge of Natasha's Law and allergen controls, with the ability to follow dietary, texture-modified and portioning instructions accurately.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail, including accurate completion of equipment, maintenance and food safety records.
• Good literacy, numeracy and communication skills, with a working knowledge of kitchen equipment, cleaning schedules, stock rotation and safe food storage.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, work under pressure and work effectively both independently and as part of a busy catering team.
• A flexible, reliable and positive approach, including a willingness to support reasonable catering duties when priorities or staffing arrangements change.
• Respect for the dignity, choices and dietary needs of young people with complex needs, with a commitment to safeguarding and promoting their wellbeing.
• Previous experience in a busy kitchen, school, care or specialist service environment is desirable but not essential.

How to Apply:

You can apply online by completing our online application form.  For more information on this position please contact grace.canning@theauroragroup.co.uk

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