Join Our Team
We are steadily building a network of Companions! If you want to join us or find out more please see the job description below:
Contract Terms
Job Title Companion
Application Closing Date Rolling
Location Cheltenham, Gloucester, Cirencester and Tetbury
Hours Part time. 11.30am - 2.30pm up to 5 days a week
Pay £12.60 per hour + paid mileage
Who We Are
We believe human connection can be just as important to physical and mental health as exercise and healthy eating. The Kitchen Companions exists because there are vulnerable people who can struggle to eat at least one hot meal a day, they feel lonely and want to be safe. By supporting them we will give them greater life satisfaction, more resilience and better health and wellbeing.
Job Description
We are looking for enthusiastic and community focused people who want to bring care back to the community. The people you visit will be local to you. You will go to their home, make them a hot meal while spending time with them and check they are safe. You will visit the same people regularly, building a strong bond of trust and care that will truly make a difference to their lives.
Reporting to
The area co-ordinator
The Role
As a companion your role and task will encompass the following:
Visit up to 4 different people every weekday
Safely deliver, prepare, and present meals during each visit
Conduct a welfare check during each visit and report any changes in condition to your coordinator
Take the time to chat and help them with odd jobs or problems
Collect delivery of our food to replenish your weekly stock
Collaborating with the team to embody and set our culture
Who you will be
You want to persevere and make a difference in your community
You value building connections and forging meaningful relationships
You can handle challenging situations with care & compassion
You can deal with challenging home environments
You are resilient, intuitive, and conscientious
You’ll enjoy problem solving
You’ll have good observation skills and a conscientious nature
You will need
To store a small chest freezer at your home c. 65.5cm wide x 53cm deep x 86cm high & carry out daily temperature checks
A car for your visits, or your own means of transport (you can expense mileage @ 0.45p/mile)
Good navigating skills and excellent time management
To be able to work out how different microwaves work
To be comfortable around pets e.g. dogs
Our Culture
We pride ourselves on a culture rooted in community, empowerment, teamwork, optimism, and ethical practices. It’s the daily actions of our team that shape our culture and define who we are. Our commitment to ethical behaviour encompasses principles like consistency, integrity, openness and humility; creating a respectful, inclusive, and positive workplace.
How to Apply
Please send your CV (if you have one) and a covering letter sharing why you would like to be a companion to jobs@thekitchencompanions.org.uk.
The Kitchen Companions are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of the people we visit, all successful candidates will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check. It is an offence to apply for this role if the candidate is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to vulnerable individuals.
Ethical Framework
We want our application process to be right for you as an individual, so if there’s anything you think we can do to make this process more manageable for you please email jobs@thekitchencompanions.org.uk directly to discuss what support we might be able to provide.
At The Kitchen Companions we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals feel respected and empowered regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other characteristic. We embrace different perspectives and backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants. We encourage candidates from all walks of life to apply and contribute to our team.