St Cuthman's - Situations Vacant

As you'll see from this website St Cuthman’s is a small retreat centre, located in beautiful grounds, serving the needs of guests seeking a place of prayer, peace and renewal. The Centre is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Trust and welcomes guests of all faiths and none. It has a reputation for providing excellent wholesome food and now requires a full time chef to manage its catering operation.

Duties include planning and providing the catering service for St Cuthman’s within an agreed budget. Planning menus and preparing and serving a two course hot lunch, cakes for afternoon tea and a buffet supper for residential guests andstaff (24 guest plus 4/5 staff). In addition, providing two course hot lunches, light lunches or sandwiches and cakes for day visitors using the Garden Room conference facilities (Max 24 people). Organising the supply and delivery of catering goods and produce. You would be responsible for monitoring and maintaining the catering facilities and practice to comply with Health, Safety and Food Hygiene regulations. To manage the work of weekend/relief chefs and domestic staff and ancillary staff working in the kitchen area and involved in serving food and clearing up.

Hours: 35 hours per week – working alternate weekends, with two week days off on alternate weeks. Start and finish times are negotiable either 8.30 – 4.30 or 9.00 – 5pm or 9.30 – 5.pm including an hour for lunch– or earlier finish time and an half hour lunch break.

Pay: £21,000 to £22,500 (depending on experience) plus a non-contributory pension (or cash in lieu).

Holidays: 20 days p.a (ie 1 days holiday in every 13 days worked). Plus others at the discretion of the Diocesan Trustees mostly around the Christmas/New Year period. The house currently closes to guests during Christmas, New Year and Easter.

Person specification: The post holder must hold a recognised professional catering qualification (Minimum level: City and Guilds 707/1 & 2 or equivalent) and Food Hygiene certification, be experienced in cooking on a regular basis for 50/55 people, including those with special dietary needs. He /she needs to be enthusiastic about ‘home style’ cooking, highly organised and able to work calmly under pressure. A sympathetic understanding of and commitment to the mission and purpose of the house is important. Some experience of managing other staff is preferred.

If you are keen to use your professional skills, in pleasant surroundings, and join a small dedicated team – St Cuthman’s could be just the place for you.

For further details please contact: The Director, St Cuthman’s, Cowfold Road, Coolham, Horsham RH13 8QL West Sussex.

Tel: Email: director.stcuthmans@yahoo.co.uk

Closing date for applications: 21st April 2008