Catering Team Leader

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Deliver an excellent level of catering for hospice patients, visitors and staff maintaining professionalism at all times
• Prepare food to required standards, always ensuring high-quality presentation and portion control.
• Develop and update cafe menus to meet the dietary needs and preferences of service users.
• Ensure full compliance with special dietary requirements, in collaboration with patients and clinical teams.
• Maintain Hospice standards of hygiene, including personal cleanliness, safe working practices, and proper food-handling procedures.
• Supervise the cleaning of kitchen areas, equipment, and dining spaces, ensuring consistently high standards of cleanliness.
• Oversee stock management, including accurate stock rotation, appropriate storage conditions, and monitoring shelf-life dates.
• Manage food budget and cost control by ensuring accurate menu costing and minimising waste within the unit.
• Handle customer complaints professionally and effectively, in conjunction with management.
• Complete all required Food Safety documentation in line with departmental procedures, ensuring all records are accurate, and completed on time, including documentation of corrective actions.
• Supervise the correct use of chemicals, equipment, and approved cleaning methods, following Food Safety policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and cleaning schedules.

People Management

• Lead and supervise catering staff and volunteers to ensure a professional, efficient, and customer-focused service.
• Schedule staff rotas, authorise leave, and ensure adequate daily operational coverage.
• Support staff wellbeing by offering guidance in a sensitive and appropriate manner, escalating any welfare concerns to senior management as required.
• Record staff absences and conduct return-to-work interviews, ensuring all documentation is completed accurately.
• Conduct Personal Appraisal & Development Reviews for each team member, supporting their ongoing development and performance.
• Participate in the recruitment, induction, and training of new staff, ensuring they are appropriately supported in their roles.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all staff meet mandatory training and compliance requirements.
• Uphold all quality control, food safety, and hygiene standards in accordance with Hospice policy and statutory regulations.
• Ensure cleanliness and hygiene standards are always maintained across kitchens and food production areas.
• Report any structural or mechanical defects to the caretaker team and monitor progress of repairs.
• Report any situations posing a serious and immediate health and safety risk to the senior manager; if a manager is unavailable, take immediate action to mitigate danger.
• Ensure staff use personal protective equipment correctly and address any instances of non-compliance.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

Essential

• A naturally collaborative team player.
• High personal integrity and commitment.
• Empathy with the aims and values of the Hospice.

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 3 food hygiene certificate Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Relevant achievement by qualification and/or by relevant experience.

Experience

Essential

• A genuine enthusiasm for cooking and creating delicious meals.
• Proficiency in various cooking techniques, knowledge of ingredients, and the ability to prepare a variety of dishes.
• Previous catering experience at a supervisory level.
• A general understanding of food hygiene.
• Health and safety basic knowledge.
• Cash handling & till systems.
• Excellent Communication skills.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
• Ability to work within a team or on own initiative.
• Ability to motivate team.
• Good organisational & communication skills.
• Basic data inputting either manually or using a computer/tablet.

Desirable

• Previous Industrial Catering experience.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Bury Hospice

Address

Rochdale Old Road

Bury

Lancashire

BL9 7RG

Employer's website

https://buryhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)