Volunteer role description
- Responsible to: Catering Lead
- Base: Skanda Vale Hospice.
- Hours of Service: The minimum requirement is 4 hours per week.
- In addition, all our volunteers take part in induction and training; much of which happens in the first two months. We can also consider any relevant qualifications or training you may have. We expect that in the first 3 months our Volunteer Chefs may engage in up to 10 hours per month of initial mandatory training, then up to 6 hours monthly of additional support and opportunities for personal / professional development.
Overview:
Our Chefs work their culinary magic into wonderful hospice menus that nurture our patients, guests and team members with a gastronomic hug! During respite, they cook for breakfast, lunch and supper but for day hospice the focus is purely on creating an inviting and tasty lunch. Great food is a much loved, social aspect of people’s time with us and something the wider team appreciates too; so the catering team gets to enjoy not only the fruits of their labour but widespread popularity!
Our chefs are responsible for:
- Making delicious home-cooked food for our lovely patients and volunteers to support their health and well-being.
- Guiding patients with meal selections which include dietary requirements.
- Manual handling for general kitchen duties – washing up, clearing away and cleaning equipment and surfaces to Directorate and Environmental Health Standards.
- Cleaning records, efficient goods storage and stock rotation.
- Checking and logging temperatures of foods, fridges and freezers.
- Reporting any equipment defects to the Catering Lead.
Our chefs need:
- An understanding of food hygiene procedures with a Food Hygiene Certificate level 2 or a willingness to undertake it.
- An understanding of or willingness to learn about: nutrition, food allergies and special nutritional needs.
- Catering experience, including food preparation and cooking.
- Self-motivation, effective time management and good organisational skills.
- Initiative and ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Compliance with Health & Safety and Infection Control procedures and guidelines.
We would love it if you had:
- Good interpersonal skills – for positive working relations with the wider team.
- Experience of people dealing with a life-limiting illness – so you feel comfortable stopping and chatting with patients, carers and visitors.
- A calm, diplomatic and professional manner in challenging situations.
- Knowledge of COSHH Regulations.
Personal qualities we value are:
- A compassionate and empathic attitude.
- Enthusiasm and a conscientious approach to volunteering.
- Approachability, person-centred manner and a sense of humour.
- Awareness of own limitations and willingness to seek support.
We ask all our volunteers to:
- Attend a Welcome (Back) Day, Induction and ongoing training as per hospice requirements.
- Participate in our annual development and review process.
- Follow our organisational policies and procedures.
- Play an active part in the hospice risk management process to safeguard patients, visitors and colleagues and take responsibility for reporting and managing risks as appropriate.
- Follow good infection control practices at all times and be familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance relevant to their area of work.
- Agree to a criminal records check prior to starting with us.
- Be aware of the confidential nature of the organisation, including information about patients, carers, friends and relatives which must not be disclosed to any unauthorised persons including via social media.
Apply now
Before you start, make sure you have the names, numbers and email addresses of two referees (non-family members) who you’ve known for two or more years.