Closing Date: Sunday 20th October 2024
Interview Date: Tuesday 19th November 2024
Salary: Grade 5 SCP 33 - 41 (£41,418 - £49,498)
Term: 18 Hours (2.5 days a week) – 2-year Fixed Term (subject to Job Evaluation)
Politically Restricted: Yes
Welsh Language essential: No
About the Role
The WLGA’s Food in Schools Team comprises a Food in Schools Manager, a Food in Schools Programme Coordinator (seconded until 2025) and a National Dietitian for Special Diets in Schools. They advise and support the Welsh Government, councils, schools and partner agencies in relation to food in schools’ policy development and implementation, focusing on healthy eating and special diets.
The food and drink provided in all council-maintained schools must meet The Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013 (‘Regulations’). These Regulations specify food and drink standards throughout the school day, nutritional standards for an average school lunch and define medically prescribed dietary requirements.
The wider Healthy Eating in Schools (Wales) Measure 2009 (‘Measure’) gave Welsh Ministers the power to make the above Regulations and places several duties on councils and school governing bodies to promote healthy eating and drinking by pupils.
In the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales 2022 to 2024 delivery plan, the Welsh Government committed to ‘review the regulations on school food nutrition in line with the latest nutritional standards and guidelines, and update current standards.’ This followed their commitment to ‘extend free school meal to all primary school pupils’ as part of The Co-operation Agreement: 2021, which supports ‘child nutrition and local food production and distribution’.
Based on the demands of the Welsh Government, WLGA and councils, the team coordinates various programmes of work. Team members work independently and in partnership, supporting one another and drawing upon each other’s knowledge, experience and opinions. The post holder will need to hold a valid DBS certificate.
The team are looking to second a part-time (2.5 days per week) and temporary (two years) Food in Secondary Schools Coordinator to increase their capacity. The post holder will coordinate and support programmes of work in secondary schools. Examples include:
supporting menu development and compliance with the food and drink standards of the Regulations – ongoing.
supporting the review of the Regulations and the Healthy eating in maintained schools – Statutory guidance for local authorities and governing bodies (‘Statutory Guidance’) – ongoing;
coordinating the assessment and feedback of compliance among councils and schools in relation to the Regulations – periodic.
coordinating the identification and sharing of good practices among councils and schools – to be planned.
supporting pre-consultation testing of the updated draft food and drink standards and nutritional standards – to be planned; and,
supporting research on the factors influencing pupils’ decisions about school food, with a view to making recommendations – to be planned.
Apply Now!
For an initial discussion about the role and the organisation, please contact Gareth Thomas, Food in Schools Manager on 07794416187.
To apply, please send a covering letter with a completed application form by the closing date of Sunday 20th October 2024 to: recruitment@wlga.gov.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 19th November 2024
Shortlisted applicants may be requested to undertake a task before attending for interview, as well as pre-interview tasks on the day, followed by an interview with a selection panel.
The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.