Catering Assistant

20 hours per week - term Time Only plus two days

Maiden Erlegh Trust operates an in-house catering function, delivering high quality and nutritious food to students within our schools. Working under the direction of the Trust catering manager and the school chef, the catering assistant would support in the delivery of the menu in Maiden Erlegh Reading. By providing excellent care and services to students, the successful candidate will support to grow the catering operations and will support the Trust to implement its sustainability objectives relating to catering operations.  

We are looking for staff who are willing to be flexible to support the needs of students, and other stakeholders, and to meet the operational needs of the school. This will provide excellent opportunities for staff to develop new skills and gain experience in a variety of areas. 

The successful candidate will be: 

• Friendly and professional in their interactions with the catering team, students and staff. 
• Able to operate the till system efficiently to enable students to pass through service quickly, maximising the time that they can spend outside or engaged in other lunchtime activities. 
• Confident working in a busy kitchen and possess prior experience of working in a similar setting. 
• Reliable.  Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to work to the highest standards of food safety and follow HSE requirements. 
• Capable of moderate physical activity (lifting pans, standing). 
• Willing to undertake training to support their own professional development and the operational needs of a growing school.  

We are looking for someone who has:  

• Customer service experience. 
• Previous catering experience, preferably within a School, high volume restaurants or contract catering environment. 
• A current Food hygiene qualification, or a willingness to undertake training. 
• Experience of the Food standards and H&S requirements of a school catering setting, including catering for special dietary requirements and allergies. 
• The ability to develop positive and caring relationships with children. 
• A high level of professionalism, with respect for others, and a positive attitude. 
• The school will be a part of the successful Maiden Erlegh Trust who currently operate eight other schools in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. The Trust has a reputation for driving high standards and excellence in all its schools, with a strong track record of outcomes and improving OFSTED grading. 

Our People Development Curriculum provides professional development pathways for every role within the Trust, both teaching and support staff, through which staff can tailor CPD to their own needs. 

We have a proven track record of supporting ambitious staff in to middle and senior leadership posts and can offer opportunities to broaden your impact on the sector through the work of the Maiden Erlegh Institute. We are very happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part-time working and job-sharing. 

Benefits 

Staff Wellbeing is very important to us. As a staff member of Maiden Erlegh Trust these are just some of the examples of how we show our appreciation to staff. 

• Breakfast and lunch provided for staff regularly, including on many INSET days and as a thank you throughout the year. 
• Free eye tests are provided for eligible staff. 
• Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff. 
• CPD is available for all staff at all levels. 
• We operate a system of ‘ME days’ allowing staff to request an additional day off per year to attend special events such as children’s sports days and graduations, family and friends' weddings. 

Further information about some of the staff benefits that Maiden Erlegh Trust offers its employees, can be found on our website. 

If you would like to have an informal chat with our hiring manager about this post, please email recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org

Closing date: 1 September 2024

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible as the Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint before the closing date. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and successful references.