Kitchen Porter

Introduction

We're looking for a Kitchen Porter here at Lambeth Palace. 

Lambeth Palace is a unique building of significant historical and global provenance. It is, first and foremost, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury and their family, as well as home to a wider, diverse and thriving, residential community. It is also an office and the epicentre of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry to the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. It is a Grade I listed building comprising of various listed buildings dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries, set within 10 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. Extensive refurbishment works are currently underway to the Blore Building, bringing state of the art facilities to the event spaces. A re-launch of the event spaces is being planned for 2025, upon completion of the works.  

By its nature and location, Lambeth Palace is seen as an iconic statement of the values and the nature of the Church of England, the Anglican Communion and the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury. As such, the way it is managed is essential to the witness and ministry exercised or exemplified within its boundaries.  

In collaboration with the wider events team, this fast-paced position plays a key role in the setting of the tone and ethos of the practical operational extension of the Archbishop’s ministry. The pattern set by the traditions of hospitality set out in the Rule of St Benedict and the ancient traditions of Christian hospitality, which call for all visitors to be treated as if they were Christ Himself, set the benchmark for this post. 

To keep the kitchen clean and tidy. kitchen tasks will be required such as, maintaining a clean and organised kitchen environment, supporting chefs, and preforming basic food preparation tasks, including dishwashing, cleaning and waste management. The post holder will also assist in equipment and food supply stocktakes and help ensure that the kitchen operations are supported as required. There will be occasional need to support front-of-house catering setup to cover for sickness or unexpected absence of regular catering staff. The post holder will need to be hard-working and happy to work late evenings as needed to cover events. The site has gone through a major refurbishment which consists of a brand new state of the art kitchen facilities.  

 Kitchen: 

•  To record opening and closing checks. 
• To keep the kitchen clean and tidy at all times, to undertake general kitchen porter duties (washing up & kitchen cleaning & Waste management).
• To receive, check and put away daily deliveries, to record daily fridge/freezer temperatures, by using food alert system, reporting any discrepancies to the Head Chef.  
• To clean and closedown the kitchen at the end of shifts.
• To complete daily Kitchen cleaning schedules at the end of shifts.
• To assist the kitchen team with basic food preparation & service.
• To assist with basic front of house catering duties occasionally as requested by the Operations manager.
• Delivery of catering to required locations when necessary. 

Stocktake:

• Help to complete regular equipment stocktakes for the kitchen and catering supplies, as well as ensuring adequate food supplies are maintained in collaboration with the kitchen team. 

All staff working at Lambeth Palace share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture with regard to children and vulnerable adults, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities. 

Please note that this is a 12 month fixed term contract.

Knowledge/Experience: 

• Experience working in a busy kitchen with small teams.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety practices in regard to food preparation and kitchen equipment.
• Experience with basic food preparation and delivery controls.
• Awareness of manual handling techniques.
• Awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and chemical safety.
• Awareness and an understand of food allergens.

 Skills & Abilities: 

• Strong sense of responsibility that the work issued is of a consistently high standard, with fast response times.
• A self-starter, able to use initiative and good judgement.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• Flexibility with the ability to adapt plans quickly in response to change.
• Strong team working skills.
• Hard-working and willing to complete time-consuming cleaning tasks regularly.
• Basic food preparation and kitchen equipment handling skills.

 Qualifications & Training: 

• Level 1 Food Safety.
• Allergen Training.

• A salary of £30,430 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department’s needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK’s leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity