Overview
Our Benefits
You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council
About the role
We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic Cook/Chef to deliver high‑quality, nutritious meals for our elderly residents. This is a rewarding role where your skills will directly contribute to the wellbeing of those in your care.
Longlands Care home is situated in Daventry, we offer a happy and safe living environment in which our residents can enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
Our Team of friendly and committed staff provide the highest level of care and specialise in supporting people living with Dementia.
With our great accommodation and facilities and a programme of activities, our care home aims to provide a home from home atmosphere in which our residents can feel comfortable, content and very well cared for.
It is situated in Daventry, and it offers a wonderful living environment in which our residents can enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
We have teams of friendly and committed staff who provide the highest level of dementia care and residential care.
With our great accommodation and facilities and a programme of activities, our care home evokes a home from home atmosphere in which our residents can feel comfortable, content and very well cared for.
Our customers (Residents) are at the heart of what we do. You will receive continuous training, support assistance. Most of your team will have grown organically within WNC. A rare natural enjoyment for their role and the support they offer to our customers.
Working Hours
Total hours: 21 hours per week
Working time:
8:00am – 3:30pm
(Please note: these hours are fixed and not flexible.)
Rota Pattern
The role operates on a two‑week rota as follows:
Week 1:
Working three days per week:
- Monday, Tuesday, either Wednesday or Thursday
Week 2:
Working on:
- Monday, Saturday and Sunday
What will you be doing?
You’re not just preparing meals — you’re creating moments of comfort and joy for the people who live in our care home. A warm meal can brighten someone’s whole day, and you’ll be a big part of that. Working alongside our Senior Cook.
• Cooking daily meals
Preparing and cooking breakfast, lunch and tea for residents in a 24‑hour care home. Ensuring meals are tasty, nutritious and meet residents’ needs.
• Planning menus
Designing menus that take into account different diets, allergies, health conditions, textures, and personal preferences.
• Ensuring safety and hygiene
Keeping the kitchen clean and compliant, following food hygiene rules, completing risk assessments, and reporting any faults or hazards.
• Supporting residents
Creating a positive mealtime experience, supporting staff at mealtimes, and ensuring residents are kept safe around kitchen areas.
About you
At West Northamptonshire Council, we want colleagues who THRIVE. In this role, you’ll bring the skills, attitude, and values that help us deliver great care every day.
- A genuine commitment to preparing safe, nutritious meals that meet individual dietary, cultural, and medical needs
- An understanding of equal opportunities and respect for people’s behavioural, physical, social, and welfare needs
- The ability to work positively with colleagues and contribute to a supportive team environment
- Experience of preparing and cooking meals, ideally in a care, day centre, or residential setting
- A good understanding of food hygiene and health & safety practices, including a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
- Strong time‑management skills, with the ability to work to set mealtimes and deadlines
- Confidence in ordering supplies and managing stock within a small budget
- Practical, organised approach that helps keep the kitchen running efficiently and safely
- A willingness to learn, improve ways of working, and maintain high standards at all times
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Children and Adults Barred List check. West Northamptonshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role does not meet the legal requirements for visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. We cannot accept individuals on full-time sponsorship who are seeking this as a second job or as their main job, as care is no longer classified as a Skilled Worker occupation.
Don’t delay — this role may close very quickly if we receive a high volume of suitable applicants.
About us
We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government
reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey
to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and
communities.
Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great
place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to
make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance,
Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver
services.
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with
ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail,
and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A
place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-
minded people.
When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.
Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and
challenges you in a positive way, every day.
West Northants Council, where careers thrive.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
