Country Café Coordinator
Salary £ 30,497
Market Overton, Rutland
Vacancy listed 14/04/2026
Application deadline 14/05/2026
Details
Job description:

Job Title: Country Café Co-ordinator

Team: Creative Enterprises

Reports to: Creative Enterprise Manager

Location: This is an on-site role working on a seasonal rota at our beautiful location in the village of Market Overton, Rutland.

Job Type: 40 hours per week, worked between 08:30 and 17:00. The working pattern is seasonal, with a Tuesday to Saturday rota during the summer months and Monday to Friday during the winter months, in line with business needs.

Salary: £30,497 per annum

About Us

The Lodge Trust CIO is a Christian charity based in Market Overton, Rutland, providing supported living, residential care, day opportunities, and work-based activities for adults with learning disabilities. Our mission is to create a community where people are valued, encouraged, and empowered to live life to the full.

Our 20-acre rural site includes homes, workshops, a café, gardens, woodland, and a camping and caravan site. Rooted in Christian values of compassion, respect, and kindness, we seek to create a welcoming community where dignity, independence, and personal growth are encouraged.

Creative Enterprises form a key part of our day opportunities, offering meaningful, productive, and skill-building work experiences for adults with learning disabilities

Role Purpose

To lead and coordinate the day-to-day operation of the Country Café as a front-of-house-led, financially sustainable social enterprise, delivering:

  • A high-quality, welcoming customer experience, led from the front
  • Break-even minimum financial performance, with growth ambition
  • Meaningful work-based learning opportunities for residents and day service users
The Café Co-ordinator will take a hands-on, front-of-house leadership role, setting the tone for service standards, customer engagement, and operational flow, while supporting residents to build confidence and skills in a real working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Financial Performance
  • Own café financial performance, ensuring it achieves and exceeds break-even
  • Drive revenue through effective pricing, cost control, and stock management
  • Improve sales mix and average transaction value to maximise profitability

Front of House Leadership & Customer Experience
  • Lead front of house with a visible, hands-on approach during service
  • Deliver and maintain high standards of customer service, presentation, and efficiency
  • Act as the main point of contact for customers, handling queries and feedback professionally

Resident & Service User Development
  • Support residents to develop catering and hospitality skills in a real working environment
  • Build confidence and independence through meaningful, person-centred activities
  • Ensure all support aligns with individual care plans and promotes dignity and respect

Operational Management
  • Oversee the daily running of the café across front and back of house
  • Plan and deliver seasonal menus, events, and promotions
  • Balance customer demand, dietary needs, and commercial performance

Health, Safety & Food Hygiene
  • Ensure full compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, and care regulations
  • Maintain a 5-star hygiene rating and accurate compliance records
  • Promote a safe, clean, and well-organised working environment

Team Leadership & Management
  • Lead, manage, and develop café staff, including Kitchen Team Leader, creating a positive team culture
  • Ensure staff deliver both strong commercial performance and quality resident support
  • Provide supervision, training, and ongoing performance management

Administration & Compliance
  • Manage ordering, stock control, and supplier relationships
  • Maintain accurate records across operations, finance, and care systems
  • Ensure adherence to all policies, procedures, and compliance requirements

What Success Looks Like
  • Café consistently operates at break-even or better
  • Residents are actively engaged and progressing in skills and confidence
  • Café achieves and maintains 5 hygiene and full compliance*
  • Customers receive a high-quality, welcoming experience
  • Operations are efficient, well-organised, and commercially aware
  • Team is stable, capable, and aligned to both care and commercial goals

Person Specification
Essential
  • Experience in café / catering / hospitality environment (min. 2 years)
  • Experience managing or supervising a team
  • Strong organisational and operational skills
  • Ability to balance care responsibilities with commercial delivery
  • Understanding of health & safety and food hygiene requirements
  • IT literacy and administrative capability
  • Alignment with Lodge Trust values and ethos

Desirable
  • Experience in a commercially run café or hospitality business
  • Experience supporting individuals with learning disabilities
  • Formal qualifications in: 
- Food Hygiene 
- Health & Social Care
  • Experience managing budgets or P&L

Work Schedule
40 hours per week, worked between 08:30 and 17:00. The working pattern is seasonal, with a Tuesday to Saturday rota during the summer months and Monday to Friday during the winter months, in line with business needs.


Safer Recruitment Statement
The Lodge Trust CIO is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All roles are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including the Adults’ Barred List where the post involves regulated activity.

Applicants already registered with the DBS Update Service will be asked to provide their certificate number and consent for an online status check. Employment will also be subject to verification of identity and right to work in the UK, satisfactory references confirming conduct in previous roles (particularly in care or support settings), and confirmation of qualifications or professional registration where required.

The Lodge Trust CIO follows CQC Regulation 19 (Fit and Proper Persons Employed), Schedule 3 evidence requirements, and Skills for Care safer recruitment guidance to ensure all staff are suitable and safe to work in social care.

Benefits

• Company Pension Scheme – through our partnership with Standard Life
• 28 Days Annual Leave – including bank holidays (or equivalent time off)
• Up to 3 Extra Annual Leave Days – for each completed year of service
• Benenden Health Scheme – affordable healthcare cover
• Care Sector Discount Scheme – through Blue Light Card
• Ongoing Training & Development – to support your career growth
• Career Progression Opportunities – we promote from within
• Free On-Site Parking – convenient and cost-effective
• Café Discount – savings on food and drinks
• Refer a Friend Bonus – earn £200 when you bring great talent to our team

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