Cook - Aged Care

• Not for Profit Salary Sacrifice Tax benefit
• Job stability with meaningful and deeply rewarding work
• Promotes and Supports a Healthy Work-Life Balance
• Opportunities for Professional Development and Career Progression

The organisation
Finncare is a highly regarded, ‘not for profit’ provider of Aged Care, Retirement Living and Home and Community Care currently operating a 61-bed aged care facility located in Thornlands, southeast of Brisbane as well as a Home Support Services offering. We are progressive and have a philosophy of restorative care with a justifiably proud history of delivering service excellence to the Australian Finnish and Australian community. As a smaller facility, the Chef is able to form rewarding relationships with both residents and staff, delivering much more personalised services than in a larger organisation.

About the Position

The Cook, who will be a hands on and well rounded cook, plays a key role in making residents feel comfortable and happy in their home, as well as nourished and cared for. The Cook is responsible for the efficient functioning of the kitchen area, and implementing appropriate systems and processes for the operational management of the catering service and other events if necessary.

The Chef will be support to a strong Kitchen Supervisor and Baker, reports to the GM and is accountable for the operations and efficient and effective running of the kitchen area and for providing a high level of service to the organisation and its members, through maintaining the day to day functions of the kitchen area.

Responsibilities:

The Cook is responsible for:

• Providing healthy, tasty and nourishing meals and snacks in accordance with the residents’ preferences/special needs
• Supervising the kitchen staff and ensuring that the team are set up to create and deliver nutritious, varied menus that cater to the different needs of the residents, role modelling and enforcing health and safety regulations, maintaining inventories, and ordering supplies on occasion.

Main activities:

• Maintaining and revising the rotating menu in consultation with residents, the kitchen supervisor, and other appropriate internal and external parties
• Maintain required stock levels of food and other commodities in the kitchen area in accordance with the menu requirements.
• Follow instructions, Finncare Policies, Procedures and Duty List in regard to food storage, food handling, preparation and waste management to prevent the transmission of food-borne infections and to minimise the nutrient loss from food
• Follow safety instructions when utilising cleaning equipment and chemicals
• Maintain appropriate Kitchen procedures including open and close procedures
• Provide and maintain a clean and safe working environment and comply with food safety program and safe systems
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with other stakeholders and members of the management
• Develop knowledge of all relevant Legislation, Regulatory requirements, Professional Standards and Guidelines within scope of work role through continuing education and development
• Participate in staff, quality meetings and own Performance Evaluation to identify goals for further development and achievement and for improving the service offered to residents
• Respect the privacy and dignity of residents and maintain confidentiality of residents and organisational information in accordance with Regulatory requirements and Finncare policy and procedures
• Support the kitchen supervisor in ordering of stock, training new staff and administration functions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent
• Quality Food Safety Supervisor Certificate
• Aged Care experience will be highly regarded
• Experience in supervising kitchen staff/team members and work as part of a flexible, multi skilled team and individually
• Experience in food preparation and cooking for large numbers of people
• Knowledge of food safety programs, various cooking techniques and cleaning duties
• Commitment to customer service excellence and quality aged care

Skills and Abilities

• Commitment to consumer centred service delivery
• Understanding of special nutritional requirements of older residents living in an aged care facility and the ability to adapt to specific needs
• Ability to work independently, with a high level of accuracy and professionalism
• Able to multi-task, managing a number of priorities and actions
• Ability to adapt changing rosters
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to relate to people of all demographics with compassion and professionalism
• Ability to keep Finncare at the forefront of best practice management
• Finnish language competency not required but a willingness to learn conversational phrases will be rewarded with a smile

Benefits and perks

• Opportunity to work in a ‘for purpose’ organisation delivering essential services to our elderly community members
• Opportunity to deliver culturally specific aged care
• Values based work culture
• Supportive team environment
• Access to not-for-profit salary packaging options (pay less tax)

Immediate start, applications will be considered as they are received, and interviews will be arranged accordingly.