Kitchen Assistant

About the role

As a Kitchen Assistant at HC‑One in Sunderland you will support the delivery of nutritious meals for residents in dementia, nursing and residential care homes. The role focuses on kindness, hygiene and teamwork to ensure each resident receives high‑quality, well‑balanced food.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Chef or Cook with meal preparation and cooking.
• Serve meals to residents promptly and courteously.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of kitchen equipment and surfaces.
• Monitor and record food storage temperatures in fridges and freezers.
• Support stock rotation and proper storage of ingredients.
• Demonstrate safe use of kitchen equipment to new team members.
• Wash up and keep the kitchen tidy after service.

Required profile

• Some experience in a kitchen or catering environment.
• Willingness to obtain or already hold an NVQ Level 2 in Catering or Food Preparation.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to follow recipes accurately and record information.
• Commitment to safeguarding and reporting concerns.

Required skills

• NVQ Level 2 in Catering or Food Preparation (or willingness to achieve).
• Food preparation techniques.
• Food safety and hygiene practices.
• Temperature monitoring of food storage.
• Stock rotation and inventory handling.
• Operation of basic kitchen equipment.

What we offer

• Referral programme.
• Annual leave.
• Employee discount.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Company pension.