Kitchen Table Cafe - Deputy Manager

Passionate About Hospitality and Supporting Your Community? Join Our Team! Do you have a proven record of providing excellent customer service? Are you able to take the lead, inspire those around you, and maintain high standards in a busy environment? Do you feel compassion for those in our community who are struggling with their mental health? About the Role This role is integral to the daily operations at The Kitchen Table, our community café in central Tunbridge Wells. The Kitchen Table is a bright, welcoming environment, which serves hot and cold refreshments prepared onsite. Fitted with air conditioning, it has tables of various sizes available for reservations and walk-in customers. The rear of the café can also be sectioned off for private events and community groups. The café is open to everyone, but has a special focus on providing a supportive environment for those living with poor mental health and those who support them, by offering a safe space to connect and chat. You will be required to work closely with and deputise for the Manager, leading by example, to ensure that all customers receive the same exceptional level of service at all times, alongside completing all activities necessary in operating a successful café. All employees and volunteers are provided with a Kitchen Table apron to wear over their own clothes, and have access to free refreshments, including lunch (when working a full day). Key responsibilities of this role include:

• actively engaging with customers,
• taking orders and using the till,
• preparing and serving food and drinks,
• playing an active role in ensuring all areas remain clean and tidy,
• assisting with supply purchasing,
• assisting with cash management,
• completing associated administration tasks,
• supervising and leading a team of staff and volunteers,
• promoting and maintaining safe food practices and the health & safety of the general public. Who Do We Need This role is full time, working 37.5 hours per week. Working hours are 7.30am to 3.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday. You must have proven customer service experience, ideally within the hospitality industry, along with a positive attitude towards people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. You must be physically fit, able to be on your feet for much of each shift, able to complete table service, able to complete cooking and cleaning tasks, and able to use stairs (to access downstairs store room). Other essential requirements:
• Excellent English, verbal and written communication skills.
• Good understanding of numeracy, ideally with previous experience of cash handling.
• Confident user of IT, able to complete general admin tasks.
• Able to supervise and mentor a team of employees and volunteers.
• Able to manage time and prioritise tasks with excellent attention to detail.
• Enjoy preparing food and beverages to a high standard.
• Able to complete all required training including Level 3 Food Safety, Mental Health First Aider, Health & Safety, First Aid and Safeguarding.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to be calm and patient when faced with challenges.
• Enjoy working as part of a team in a busy customer facing environment. Rewards and Benefits
• Competitive Salary: £27,307 per annum, with an annual salary review.
• Generous Leave: 28 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing annually up to 33 days.
• Pension: Company pension scheme starting from month three, with increasing employer contributions after the first year.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes health insurance (for you and qualifying family members), Blue Light discount card, and company sick pay (after probation).
• Employee Development: Wide range of fully funded in-house and external training options. Apply Today! You will be required to complete a Standard DBS check for this role. Who are Crossways Community We are a growing Tunbridge Wells based Christian charity, with a passion to see better mental health in our community. Crossways has a proven track record in providing residential care and support for adults with acute mental health issues, giving residents valuable life skills and work experience, and promoting awareness of mental health issues within schools, churches and the local community. We provide moral and practical support to those in our care, helping individuals to access the services they need, as well as facilitating activities with the aim of recognising potential, encouraging independence, and promoting self-worth. Our community projects include a successful café, “The Kitchen Table” in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, “Reboot” our mental health awareness programmes and the “Flourish Gardening Project” in Rusthall. We are also proud to be an accredited ‘Mindful Employer'.