Jane’s Place is looking for a Volunteer Cook/Kitchen Hand

Jane’s Place is a women’s only service for women with experiences of addiction and/or homelessness. The service, staffed only by women, provides a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental environment in which women can access a multitude of supports.

Jane’s Place is a purpose-built fully wheelchair accessible, trauma-informed building that provides basic physical and mental health support, 1:1 key-working support, 1:1 counselling, psycho-educational groups, social groups/outings, holistic therapies, multi-agency wraparound support and in-reach supports provided by specialised services. We also provide shower facilities and have a salon space for women to get their hair done recognising the whole person, and the need for self-care and self-love.

A Brief History

In 2019, Merchants Quay Ireland and Dr Sarah Morton of UCD conducted researchinto the complex needs of women who are homeless and in addiction. This research showed that women are often unable or unwilling to access existing services. Higher rates of gender-based violence, sex work and coercive control among women can leave them too ashamed, stigmatised and afraid to seek the help they need.

International research shows that female-only spaces facilitate greater emotional and physical safety for women, especially those who have experienced trauma and abuse.

In response to these findings, MQI has introduced Jane’s Place, a gender-specific service for women who are homeless and/or in addiction in Dublin city centre. The service, staffed only by women, provides a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental environment in which women can access support.

Our Volunteer Cook/Kitchen Hand will support the Jane’s Place team in providing our clients with healthy nutritional meal options. This role involves meal and food preparation, forward planning and maintaining a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness in all food preparation areas within our women’s only centre.

We currently need one Volunteer for a weekly 4 hour shift on a Wednesday morning, who can commit to volunteering for a minimum of 12 months duration

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The first responsibility for new volunteers will be to read and if you agree, sign the Volunteer Agreement and code of conduct. Thereafter we will ask you to spend time getting to know the Service. You will be supported in this through the MQI induction and volunteer training modules.

Maintain hygiene and storage standards as laid out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)
Comply with all Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards
Support the team in food management and meal preparation for the week, preparing meat & vegetables and batching meals for easy cooking during the week
Engage with our Jane’s Place clients in a welcoming and supportive manner.
Maintain high personal hygiene standards
Comply with Health and Safety regulations
Adhere to all necessary training
Report faulty equipment
Participate as a team member
Participate and carry out any additional duties as required by your line manager
Help fulfil Jane’s Place aims and objectives
Perform volunteer duties to the best of your ability

Adhere to the signed volunteer agreement
Develop working relationships with clients
Help in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment
Attend support and supervision sessions with your line manager
Comply with all administration, filing and paperwork requirements in the service
Adhere to the organisations boundaries and confidentiality policy in all interactions with clients
Adhere to the organisations Code of Conduct

General Volunteer Skills:

Volunteers should be empathetic, non-judgemental, patient, and supportive towards others.
Reliable, flexible with a willingness to get involved and help out.
All volunteers will require Garda clearance through MQI for this position.
Volunteers are required to produce two references.
Create organised and efficient storage solutions

Role Specific Qualifications

HACCP

We wholeheartedly and gratefully thank you so much for your support to provide the best services to our clients. From everyone at MQI.

Volunteer Cook/Kitchen Hand - Jane's Place

Job Description