Catering Assistant
| Posting date: | 14 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £12.21 per hour |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 14 December 2025 |
| Location: | TN13 2SD |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Leonard Cheshire |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 121 |
Summary
£12.21 per hour | Part time | Chipstead Lake
“Helping people enjoy their meals safely and happily – every mealtime is an opportunity to make someone’s day.”
That’s how one of our Catering Assistants describes their role. If you’re enthusiastic about food, enjoy supporting others, and want to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.
A home, not just a service
Our Chipstead Lake supports adults with learning disabilities and additional needs to live their lives their way. The kitchen is the heart of our home – where we prepare and serve nutritious meals that bring people together. You’ll assist with food prep, serve meals and beverages, and work closely with care teams to ensure everyone’s individual needs are met.
Your working hours
This is a part 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 supporting your wellbeing and development, we offer a fantastic range of benefits:
• Enhanced pay for evenings and weekends
• 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 to gain food hygiene qualifications
• Free DBS check
• Employee Assistance Programme – support when you need it most
What you’ll do
• Assist with preparation and cooking of meals in line with menus and dietary needs
• Serve food and beverages to customers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable mealtime
• Support the maintenance of high standards of hygiene and cleanliness in the kitchen and dining areas, following HACCP and COSHH regulations
• Work closely with care teams and customers to provide suitable menus
• Follow individual customer risk assessments, supporting specific needs such as dysphagia or mobility
• Use kitchen equipment safely and report any faults or supply needs
• Participate in training, supervision, and team meetings as required
• Carry out additional reasonable duties as requested by your line manager
What helps you shine here
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to work towards this)
• Previous kitchen or catering experience is advantageous
• Ability to work flexibly within rostered hours
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• Understanding of safe food handling and hygiene practices
• Good communication and teamwork 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?
If you’re ready to start a role where your work really matters, click Apply Now. Or pop in and chat with us – we’re happy to answer questions and tell you more.
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.
“Helping people enjoy their meals safely and happily – every mealtime is an opportunity to make someone’s day.”
That’s how one of our Catering Assistants describes their role. If you’re enthusiastic about food, enjoy supporting others, and want to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.
A home, not just a service
Our Chipstead Lake supports adults with learning disabilities and additional needs to live their lives their way. The kitchen is the heart of our home – where we prepare and serve nutritious meals that bring people together. You’ll assist with food prep, serve meals and beverages, and work closely with care teams to ensure everyone’s individual needs are met.
Your working hours
This is a part 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 supporting your wellbeing and development, we offer a fantastic range of benefits:
• Enhanced pay for evenings and weekends
• 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 to gain food hygiene qualifications
• Free DBS check
• Employee Assistance Programme – support when you need it most
What you’ll do
• Assist with preparation and cooking of meals in line with menus and dietary needs
• Serve food and beverages to customers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable mealtime
• Support the maintenance of high standards of hygiene and cleanliness in the kitchen and dining areas, following HACCP and COSHH regulations
• Work closely with care teams and customers to provide suitable menus
• Follow individual customer risk assessments, supporting specific needs such as dysphagia or mobility
• Use kitchen equipment safely and report any faults or supply needs
• Participate in training, supervision, and team meetings as required
• Carry out additional reasonable duties as requested by your line manager
What helps you shine here
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to work towards this)
• Previous kitchen or catering experience is advantageous
• Ability to work flexibly within rostered hours
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• Understanding of safe food handling and hygiene practices
• Good communication and teamwork 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?
If you’re ready to start a role where your work really matters, click Apply Now. Or pop in and chat with us – we’re happy to answer questions and tell you more.
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.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.