Purpose:

The Café Assistant will help with the day-to-day running of a cafe environment, in which people are being supported to have meaningful roles in the cafe team as part of their engagement in our Nature-based Therapies and Skills (NBTS) programmes.

To assist in the day to day running of the café and catering operations in accordance with and to the standards required by the Food Operations Manager and statutory regulations.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Enabling Nature-based Therapies and Skills Programmes:

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary NBTS team, following established systems and processes to ensure our food environments are safe and effective in providing places for people we support to have equal, meaningful roles to develop skills in catering, food production and customer service.
• Sharing skills in systems, processes, equipment usage, food production techniques etc.

Operating safe food environments:

• Contributing to safe practice in the café environment, including:

1. Completing all required tasks and records/documentation to ensure/evidence we run a safe business.
2. Dynamic risk assessment to ensure tasks are carried out safely.
3. Reporting buildings and maintenance issues to line manager and reporting to PALS or others, where required.

• Ensuring the products we make are safe and in-line with the guidance given on how we comply with regulatory requirements (e.g. labelling, safety testing etc).
• Working with colleagues to proactively seek solutions to day-to-day operational challenges, escalating risks or issues.

Financial:

• Assisting in the preparation and delivery of footfall-driving initiatives such as events.
• Seeking to minimise waste and manage stock efficiently.
• Ensuring cash/payment management processes are effective, and our tills systems are accurate.

Customer Service:

• Providing consistently high-quality service and food quality experience for customers, enhancing the reputation of the café.
• Collecting evidence of customer experience such as encouraging customers to complete a satisfaction survey or leave a review.

People:

• Share skills and develop capabilities in the team through on-the-job training.
• Assist in inducting, integrating and training new staff and volunteers.
• Assist in the development of efficient staffing schedules/rotas resource the service efficiently and appropriately to ensure a safe environment for the NBTS Programmes to take place in and meet customer demand.
• Assist in the effective two-way communication of information.
• Engage in all relevant training within the expected timeframes.

Service development & promotion:

• Seek out opportunities for continual service improvement.
• Building and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders, including people we support, customers, suppliers, family members, colleagues and partners/visiting professionals, while ensuring the Camphill Village Trust ethos is clearly communicated. To assist with the standard of presentation of the premises and equipment.
• To ensure correct procedures are followed in the handling of cash, cheque and electronic payment transactions
• Assisting in embedding the farm to fork ethos, showcasing the nutritious, locally grown produce and demonstrating creativity in using that produce to offer all kinds of delicious food that changes with the seasons.

General:

• Comply with the Trust’s policies and procedures, including Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and Data Protection.
• Comply with the statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• Employees must look after their own health, safety and welfare and be mindful of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees must co-operate and comply with management instructions regarding health and safety issues and report all accidents, incidents and problems as soon as practicable to their manager or other senior members of staff where necessary.
• Ensure that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times.
• Attend and participate in team meetings, 1-2-1 supervision sessions and other meetings as required in line with the post.
• Undertake any other duties which are consistent with this post, as directed by line management.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the department.

Person Specification:

Education & Qualifications:

Desirable:

• A -C in Maths and English.

Knowledge & Experience:

Essential:

Opportunity provision:

• An ability to work with our mixed abilities team including people with learning disabilities, mental health problems and others facing barriers to participation in society and work.

Catering & Hospitality:

• A minimum of 1-years’ experience in catering/hospitality environments.
• Experience of customer service excellence and knowledge of how to deliver a positive customer experience, increasing footfall/spend per head, positive reviews and feedback.

IT Skills:

• Experience in using Microsoft Office (spreadsheets for data in Excel, Word and Powerpoint for reports/presentations) to present information /write reports etc.)

Desirable:

• Experience of working in an environment that provides opportunity for people with learning disability, autism and/or mental health support needs.
• Knowledge of Safe Food & Better Business.
• Food Hygiene qualification.

Personal attributes:

• A calm, person-orientated approach with a flexible mind set and the ability to take and give direction from and to others.
• Proven ability to be honest, dependable, and dedicated to your role.
• A common-sense approach, fun but mature attitude and approachability are key.
• Strong and adaptable communication skills.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.

Key Competencies:

• Able to evidence empathy, recognise the needs of others, their individual abilities, barriers to progression & solutions to overcome these.
• Excellent people management skills with the desire/ability to influence a positive and inclusive culture.
• Excellent planning and time management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Able to support the team to be creative and develop products/menus driven by local, seasonal products to meet customer demands and expectations.
• A strong grasp of English for written records and Maths for cash/payment handling and stock management.
• Proven IT Competency, particularly with EPOS systems.
• Must be available to work some weekends, bank holidays, school holidays between the hours of 9 – 5.30.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Camphill Village Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Camphill Village Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check.