Housekeeper/Cook

Permanent
Part Time 25 hours per week

Location: The Dartmoor Centres, Pixies Holt, Dartmeet, PL20, 6SG

We are looking for a Cook/Housekeeper to join our team at The Dartmoor Centres. We are Devon County Councils outdoor education service. The Dartmoor Centres are a busy and vibrant place to work, mostly accommodating schools and other groups on adventurous activity trips. The successful candidate will be hard working, be an enthusiastic and friendly face to customers and colleagues and have an eye for the details that will keep our customers happy and coming back every year.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day catering and residential housekeeping tasks of The Dartmoor Centres, (Pixies Holt Outdoor Centre & The Dartmoor Training Centre), which are residential outdoor education centres on Dartmoor.
Provision of this residential outdoor education service is an intrinsic part of the offer of the Dartmoor Centres and contributes to Devon’s Strategic Plan for children and young people to have the best outcomes, to live an independent and healthy life and to achieve their full
potential.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Catering for residential customers.
• Liaise with centre administrator to ensure all customers’ dietary needs are understood and met by reviewing customer booking forms
• Creatively develop new recipes to meet customers ‘needs, allergies and requests in order to ensure high customer satisfaction.
• Order food from a range of suppliers to ensure high quality meals using high quality fresh ingredients and value for money
• Prepare daily cooked food for circa 40 residential customers using fresh meat, vegetable etc as much as possible
• Prepare daily packed lunches using fresh ingredients for around 40 residential customers
• Ensure all cooking and kitchen use is in line with Food Standards Agency guidance and environmental health legislation
• Clean kitchen and dining room after each use
• Keep daily Records in line with Food Standards Agency guidance and environmental health legislation.
• Housekeeping for residential customers.
• Order cleaning and toiletries supplies for two residential outdoor education centres
• Ensure all linen (duvets, pillowcases, towels etc) are clean and presentable.
• Use of commercial washing machine and dryer
• Thoroughly clean the residential centres on a daily basis as part of a team. Including vacuuming floors, wiping tables and chairs, cleaning toilets and shower rooms/changing rooms.
• External cleaning of both centres including window cleaning, sweeping passageways, light gardening
• Light decorating such as cleaning and painting walls, doors, skirting etc.
• Seasonal deep cleaning of both centres including removal of furniture

In line with the Councils strategy to have an agile workforce you may be asked to work in other areas of the Council, based on your skills and the priorities of the organisation.

Our offer to you

Working for Devon County Council (DCC) has all the benefits that you can expect from a large employer.

In return for the vital contribution that you make, we offer:

• 26 days annual leave per year (rising with length of service) plus Bank Holidays effective from 1 April 2024.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme - more information can be found on the Peninsula Pensions website.
• Access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme – available 24/7 to support you with personal and work life.
• Flexible working opportunities, including home-working (subject to the needs of the role).
• Discounts from local and high street retailers through the Devon Discounts scheme.
  

For an informal discussion please contact Simon Knight on 01364631500.

Interview Date: 3rd of December 2026

How to apply

Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.

Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.

Please click here to see the Job Description

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council’s use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required.For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.