Cook

Job Introduction

Job Title: Residential Care Home Cook
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week, mornings, evenings and weekends
Salary: £25,989 - £27,254
Location: Lincolnshire Secure Unit, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Closing Date: Sunday 14 June 2026

Lincolnshire Secure Unit is a Secure Children's home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

We are looking for a creative, innovative and resourceful Residential Care Home Cook to join our highly passionate and dedicated care team who provide a safe, nurturing and caring environment for children and young people. We look after children and young people between the ages of 11 and 18 who are placed with us through the Youth Custody Service or for Welfare reasons. 

Due to recent changes in immigration law in the UK we are unable to offer skilled worker visa sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the requirements.

About the Role

We have one full time position available (37 hours a week), working mornings, evenings and weekends. There will be occasions when additional hours would be offered, to support with covering service needs. 

You will:

• Have responsibility for planning and preparing weekly menus for both staff and young people
• Prepare and understand healthy, varied, freshly made meals for a range of dietary requirements; Vegetarian, Halal, gluten free and coeliac, as well as other specific dietary requirements
• Keep accurate records and follow food hygiene standards
• Maintain and undertake the daily and weekly cleaning tasks within the kitchen area
• Complete all mandatory LCC training   

You will be joining a team in a role that provides variety and challenge, where no two days are the same.  This role offers opportunities for personal learning and growth to enable you to achieve the expected professional standards of a Residential Care Home Cook.

About You

As a Residential Care Home Cook you will be an integral part of the team. You will need to be prepared to develop positive relationships with all our children and young people, gain an understanding of their individual needs, ensuring you have compassion and empathy at all times.

All Cooks must work within our core values: kindness, nurture, care, respect, empathy and compassion. We will provide you with the necessary training that you will need to fulfil your role and support you through a full induction program. To apply you will need to be;

• Enthusiastic
• Resilient
• Innovative
• Flexible
• A good team player

About Our Offer

Mentorship and Support: You will be mentored by our experienced and supportive team, ensuring you have the guidance and support you need to excel.

Comprehensive Induction: We will provide a full induction to help ensure you get the best start to your new role

Excellent Benefits: Generous annual leave entitlement from day one, access to an excellent local government pension scheme, free parking on site, free DBS check, a free uniform and access to a range of services to support your wellbeing at work. 

Competitive Salary: £25,989 - £27,254

Learn more about the benefits of working with us here: Rewards and benefits – Lincolnshire County Council.

For a confidential and informal discussion about the role please contact James Guthrie on 01529 414300  or alternatively you can email james.guthrie@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Applications close 14th June 2026. 

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statementclearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirablecriteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to thisrole, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job InformationPack here to support you in yourapplication.

Please be advised that this position may be subject toa criminal record check.

On occasion we receive significantly more applicationsthan expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve theright to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We thereforestrongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointmentshould the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once anapplication is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If youwithdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submitanother application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submittedapplication, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates whoare not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed tosafeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerableadults and expects all staff and volunteersto share this commitment.

Fluency Duty 

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016(Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provideadvice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative,adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everythingwe do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values andbring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a realdifference in the communities we serve.