DARLINGTON AND DISTRICT HOSPICE MOVEMENT
The Woodlands
Full-time
St Teresa’s Hospice

JOB DESCRIPTION
1.  JOB DETAILS

Job title:  Cook

Grade:  Hospice Band 3

Reports & is responsible to:  Catering Manager

Location:  The Woodlands

2.  JOB PURPOSE

The Cook will work as an integrated member of the Hospice Establishment Team to provide high quality meals to
guests, visitors and staff. Aspects of this work will include the preparation of meals from fresh ingredients, the
management of stock, and working to a cleaning checklist.

3.  ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Hospice Board of Trustees

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Hospice Director  (Chief Executive)

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Estates & Facilities Manager

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Catering Manager (line manager)

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Cook, Assistant Cooks and Catering Volunteers

4.  KEY RESULT AREAS

1.  To prepare and serve homemade nutritious

  Working with the Catering Manager to develop

meals to patients, families, staff and visitors.

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menus for patients and the Bistro
Using fresh ingredients to prepare & serve main
meals / snacks as required for patients in the
Inpatient Unit, and removing/clearing dishes
liaising with staff about patients’ dietary
requirements and adapting to the patients’ needs
  making reasonable allowances for special dietary

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requests
need to be flexible with late/special requests from
patients
Prepare & serve fresh food for customers in The
Woodlands Bistro

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Produce home baked products for sale within the
hospice and at external fundraising events
Support internal & external fundraising events with
catering needs
Responsibility for ordering of provisions for the
kitchen.

2.  To ensure kitchen is compliant with food

  maintaining accurate temperature records on a

safety legislation.

3.  To work with other Kitchen Team members to
assist in the development and preparation of
special occasion menus.

4.  General Responsibilities/other duties required

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daily basis.
Ensure that the Hospice maintains its 5 Star ‘scores
on the doors’ Food Hygiene Rating
ensure food labelling systems are adhered to
responsibility for kitchen cleaning rota, including
cleaning of all surfaces, kitchen equipment and
mopping of kitchen floor.

  maintaining general hygiene to agreed written

protocols/standards.

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Adhere to organisational policies and procedures
at all times
Comply with organisational standing orders,
standing financial instructions, policies, procedures
and guidelines
Take all reasonable steps to manage and promote
a safe and healthy working environment which is
free from discrimination
Comply with the organisational policy on
confidentiality, and the GDPR/Data Protection Act
2018 relating to information held manually or on
computerised systems
Respect the confidentiality and privacy of families
and staff at all times

  Maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare

and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients,
visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or
fault in line with organisational policy
Fully participate in health and safety training
Participate in personal training, development,
appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses
as required
Be responsible for supervising volunteers working
in the catering area, including volunteers under 18
years of age where required
Flexibility with covering light housekeeping duties
may be required at times.

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5.  MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB

Developing and preparing a menu of nutritious, high quality meals for guests, visitors and staff whilst always
maintaining excellent standards of hygiene and meeting any special dietary requirements.

6.  DBS / other checks required:

This post is deemed to require a Disclosure check – Standard Level, with the Disclosure and Barring Service. This is due
to the fact that the post has access to vulnerable adults. Further information on the Disclosure service is available from
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs/

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This post may be deemed to require a Disclosure check – Enhanced Level, with the Disclosure and Barring Service. This
will depend on whether the postholder is in a supervisory position for volunteers under the age of 18. Further
information on the Disclosure service is available from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs/

All employees of St Teresa’s Hospice are required to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the UK.

This job description is intended as a guide to the principle duties and responsibilities of the post. It must not be regarded
as precisely defining all duties and will be subject to amendment in the light of developing service needs and changes in
health policy.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

All factors must be measurable and justified by the job

KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS
1.  Basic/Level 1 Food Hygiene Certificate

2.  Level 2 or higher qualification in catering or a relevant subject

3.

Intermediate/Level 2 or higher Food Hygiene Certificate

4.  Understanding of patient confidentiality

5.  Understanding the demands of Hospice care

6.  Knowledge of Health & Safety standards in a kitchen environment

EXPERIENCE

1.  Professional experience in a busy environment, preparing and
cooking meals from fresh ingredients; preferably in a catering
environment

2.  Experience of catering within healthcare setting

3.  Understanding of special dietary requirements

4.  Experience of working in a Hospice

5.  Experience of working with volunteers

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

(demonstrable abilities)

1.  Proven verbal communication skills with people at all levels, e.g.

management, volunteers, staff, service users & the general public
2.  Ability to Listen to instructions and  to information being passed on

by personnel or service users

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND MOTIVATION

1.  Flexible Attitude to work, able to change working pattern and/or

work additional hours on occasion to cover absence

2.  Enthusiasm to work in a kitchen environment, at both quiet and

busy times

3.  Team worker but capable of working under initiative to agreed

standards/ protocols

4.  Sensitive and Perceptive

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ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

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