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General Information

Location
Crawley
Service name
Heatherley
Closing date
11-01-26
Job type
Full-Time
Employment type
Permanent
Salary
£12.90 per hour

Description and requirements

£12.90 per hour | Full-time | 3.5 days per week | Heatherley Care Home

“It’s about creating meals that make people feel cared for – every plate is an opportunity to make someone’s day.”

That’s how one of our Cooks describes their role. If you’re passionate about food, take pride in your kitchen, and want to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

A home, not just a service

Heatherley is home for up to 32 adults with physical and learning disabilities. Set in 17 acres of beautiful countryside in Copthorne, West Sussex, we are only a short distance from Crawley. The kitchen is the heart of our home – where we create fresh, delicious, and nutritious meals that bring people together. You’ll plan menus, prepare food, and work closely with our care teams to make sure everyone’s individual dietary needs are met.

Your working hours

This is a full-time role, with flexibility to work across weekdays and weekends as part of a rota.

We’ll work with you to agree a pattern that suits the needs of the service and you.

Why you’ll love working here

As well as providing support for your wellbeing and development, we offer a fantastic range of benefits:

  • 28 days holiday per annum inclusive of bank holidays (+1 every year up to 33 days)
  • Stream: Access up to 40% of your pay before payday
  • Free Blue Light Card: Exclusive discounts and benefits
  • Contributory Pension Scheme & competitive life cover
  • Health cash plan: Affordable healthcare at your fingertips
  • Career development: Opportunities for recognised catering qualifications
  • Free DBS check
  • Employee Assistance Programme – support when you need it most

What you’ll do

  • Prepare, cook, and serve high-quality meals and beverages on time
  • Plan varied, seasonal menus that meet nutritional and dietary needs
  • Liaise with care teams and customers to create personalised menus
  • Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness in line with HACCP and COSHH regulations
  • Manage food stocks, orders, and budgets effectively
  • Supervise and support catering staff, including training and rota planning
  • Provide catering for events, parties, and special occasions
  • Ensure compliance with health, safety, safeguarding, and regulatory requirements

What helps you shine here

  • Recognised catering qualification (or willingness to work towards this)
  • Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (or Level 4) and HACCP accreditation
  • Experience working in a kitchen environment
  • Ability to plan menus, manage budgets, and maintain records
  • Knowledge of health and safety, food hygiene, and infection control principles
  • Good communication and organisational skills
  • A genuine commitment to the values and ethos of Leonard Cheshire

About Leonard Cheshire

We are one of the UK’s most respected providers of care and supported living services, with 87% of our services rated ‘good’ or ‘very good’ by regulators. Established over 75 years ago, we exist to support disabled people to live, learn, and work as independently as possible.

Ready to apply?

Leonard Cheshire welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We actively encourage applications from people with a disability, supporting where possible, your requirements for reasonable adjustments.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. A satisfactory disclosure check (PVG membership in Scotland) is required for this post. References will be obtained for all roles.