Home Cook

Job summary

Hours: Full-time (flexible shifts, alternate weekends)
Salary: £14.50 per hour (DOE) + benefits
Reports to: Head Cook / Registered Manager
Start: ASAP

Why this job?

• Cook with purpose: Your food turns mealtimes into moments that combat loneliness and lift the whole day.

• Join a team that stays: Many colleagues have been here 10+ years—you’ll feel the support from day one.

• A home with a soul: 30-bed, characterful home where we invest in people, not gimmicks.

• Proven quality: Proud holders of the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Platinum Award.

The role

Run a calm, well-paced kitchen and cook familiar, comforting dishes residents look forward to. You’ll know people by name, remember their favourites, and help create warm, social dining—tea, cake, birthdays and everyday rituals that make life feel connected.

What you’ll do

• Plan & cook home-style meals (breakfast, 3-course lunch, light supper) with choice at every meal.

• Adapt for individual needs (allergens, diabetic/low-salt, fortified diets) and support IDDSI textures—we’ll train you.

• Bake for afternoon teas, birthdays and celebrations.

• Keep it safe & spotless: temperature logs, stock rotation, cleaning schedules; EHO/CQC ready.

• Work as one team: liaise daily with carers about residents’ likes, dislikes, routines and wellbeing.

About you

• You’ve cooked for larger groups (school kitchen, pub, cafe?, events, contract catering) and can pace a service.

• Warm communicator and team player who enjoys chatting with people while you work.

• No prior care-home experience needed—we’ll teach the specifics.

• Basic/Level 2 Food Hygiene is great; if you don’t have it, we’ll fund and support it quickly.

• Enhanced DBS required (arranged by us).

Training & support (we invest in people)

• Paid training: Food Hygiene (if needed), allergens, IDDSI/dysphagia, HACCP logs, EHO expectations.

• Ongoing refreshers and mentoring from our long-serving Head Cook and management team.

• Uniform, meals on shift, pension and wellbeing support.

Working week

• Typical shifts: 07:00–17:30.

• Alternate weekends by fair rota.

• Part-time patterns considered—tell us what works for you.

Location & travel

• Easy by train: Frequent services to Woking station with a short onward bus or taxi to the Home.

• Good local bus: A reliable local bus stops nearby, so shifts are accessible without a car.

• Convenient area: We’re close to St John’s (Woking), Horsell, Knaphill and West Byfleet for straightforward commutes.

About Jackmans Lodge

For 20+ years, families in Woking have trusted our small, family-feel home. Our strength is our people—many of us have worked together for a decade or more. We believe the best homes feel like real homes, where relationships matter more than chandeliers.