Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance PLEASE SPECIFY ON THE APPLICATION THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR R L Hughes Primary School Mayfield Street, Ashton, Wigan WN4 9QL 30 hours per week, term time working 38 weeks plus 6 days per year plus 14 hours staff engagement Salary Grade 5, £18,720- £20,616 per annum £13.90 - £15.31 per hour We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough. We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you! Your role: Do you have a passion for working with Children in a school setting? If so, then this might be the opportunity for you! As a School Chef, you will work term time fixed hours and are not expected to work split shifts, nights or weekends; this is great for any childcare needs. You are responsible for the quality control of all food, H&S, food safety and COSHH. You will adhere to specific food preparation and standards, following a two-week rotating menu. You will lead and supervise catering assistants, assign work, and train your staff. You will order food from LK approved suppliers and rotate stock effectively. You will be appreciated and thanked every day by the children and play a vital role in many schools being able to operate as usual. About you: Are you passionate about food and dedicated to providing the best possible service? School Chefs need to be flexible, dynamic and be able to work with reduced kitchen staffing for ad-hoc periods. You must have fantastic customer service skills, be calm when working under pressure and promote a professional image which always mirrors the Team Wigan behaviours. School Chef ‘s are decisive Team Leaders who provide effective support to subordinates, ensuring Local Kitchen standards of food excellence are maintained when preparing, cooking, and serving high quality meals which energise and inspire school children. About us: Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations. You will work for the Local Kitchen, Transport & Road Safety service. School Chefs are supported by multiple teams, these include: The Local Kitchen Business Management team manage food procurement and provide business and catering improvement guidance. The Business Support team are the central hub and manage the day-to-day staff allocation. The Operational team are here for your wellbeing! They organise training, aspects of H&S, deliver staff engagement sessions, support attendance, listen to your needs and provide advice and guidance where needed if we don’t know we’ll find out. LTRS is dedicated to innovation and continues to advance the service through trust and technology. No matter what the working day brings we’ve got you covered. Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan. To be appointable in this role you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK. If you are unsure, please visit the below link to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) For further information, please contact Maria Hawkins at m.hawkins@wigan.gov.uk Interview date: To Be Confirmed This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check The employer is committed to safeguarding To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below:Supporting Documents
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Location
, , Wigan, , United Kingdom
Job ID
2408
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We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.
This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to and understanding how to use AI responsibly.
You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.
Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester
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Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
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Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
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Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
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Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach
Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.
To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice. If you do use AI as a support tool, a brief explanation helps us ensure an equitable selection process.
Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.
This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.
What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?
AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.
We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.
When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.
This means:
A trained hiring manager reads every application
Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job
Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role
All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms
AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.
Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.
Using AI in Your Application
When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team.
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.
We’re looking forward to hearing your story.
How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly
Your application is your chance to show us:
Who you are
What you can bring
The values you hold
Why you want to make a difference
AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.
AI is most helpful when used to:
Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria
Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors
Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something
But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process
Do:
Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement
Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure
Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice
Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience
Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself
Don’t:
Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application
Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have
Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements
Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice