Assistant Cook

Overview and Responsibilities

Assistant Cook in a new SEN provision

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Contract Type: Permanent, part-time, term time only

Hours: 20 hours per week 11:00 – 15:00 (negotiable)

Hourly rate: £12.71ph - £13.72 per hour

Actual annual salary: £11,355.11 - £12,257.44 dependent on experience

Start Date: As soon as possible

Aurora Vincent House School

As part of our growth strategy, we are really pleased to have opened a brand new SEND Secondary School in the heart of Horsham, West Sussex for autistic young people aged 11-16. We are a happy school that values kindness and understanding where everyone feels safe. Most of our students are coming to us from mainstream education to have access to an adapted National Curriculum delivered in small classes with a focus on meeting their sensory needs and support for their emotional wellbeing.

The Role:

We are looking for an Assistant cook to support our chef in our school kitchen. The service provided by what the students call ‘Roberto’s Restaurant’ is fantastic and is a key element of our school’s offer. Lunch is a relaxed, calm, social time and students are given a range of options where we positively support those students who may struggle with their dietary choices and requirements. Within your role you would be expected to support this approach by establishing a positive relationship with the children. The Assistant Cook will work closely with the Chef to prepare, cook and serve meals at lunch time. They would also aid cleaning the kitchen area afterwards. There is the expectation for the Assistant Cook to support the very occasional evening event too when possible. Experience and skills are important, but the right mindset and enthusiasm are vital.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of Vincent House school when required, Please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description - Assistant Cook

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate:

• Experience in a reactive catering environment with appropriate qualifications (L2 award in Food Safety in Catering & certificate in hospitality and catering principles)
• Able to work proactively and in a self-sufficient way
• Good communication skills with adults and students.
• Working knowledge of health & safety legislation including COSHH, manual handling and food hygiene procedures and requirements in relation to food preparation.
• A high standard of personal hygiene.
• Good understanding of cleaning schedules.

Candidates must:

• be able to cover the duties of the chef if the chef were absent.
• be able to follow strict instruction on how to support students who may have anxiety around eating and may struggle with eating disorders.
• have good spoken English that the students can clearly understand.
• have a passion to work in SEND and willingness to keep learning.
• be able to follow safeguarding instructions.
• have the empathy and resilience to work with young people who may experience high anxiety and may have self-harming behaviours, ARFID and disordered eating, and a range of mental health difficulties.

We offer:

• The time, support and training for you to prioritise safeguarding and the overall wellbeing of all students.
• A rare opportunity to be part of a team developing a new school and culture that will change the lives of many young people and their families within the community.
• It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services.

If you are interested, we strongly recommend you contact us to arrange an informal talk or school tour with the Chef and Headteacher. Our priority is appointing an Assistant cook with the right mindset and potential alongside their core skills within the kitchen.

Benefits and Additional Information

What’s on Offer at Aurora?

We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

Grow with Us – Training & Development

Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.

Save Money on Everyday Essentials

With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:

• Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme

Access Wagestream – a financial wellbeing app that helps you track earnings, save, get expert money advice, and even access part of your pay early when needed

Competitive Pay & Reward

We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy:

• Enhanced Annual Leave
• Company Sick Pay
• Enhanced Pension
• Life Assurance

24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household

Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.

UK Health Cash Plan

Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too!

Employee Assistance Programme

Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:

• Freephone counselling (available 24/7)
• Online tools and resources

Refer a Friend – Earn £1,000!

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded!(*Terms apply)

How to Apply:

You can apply online by completing our online application form. For more information on this position please contact liz.hudson@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.