Council and democracy

Catering services

We work with partner agencies and contractors to provide a wide range of meals to people in their own homes or at lunch clubs taking particular account of individuals' dietary needs.

We contract for the provision of catering goods (food supplies and equipment) and ancillary services for the department.

We advise managers of our residential homes, day centres and lunch clubs on catering issues such as food safety and the purchase of kitchen equipment.

Contract development

The catering section arranges contracts with various organisations for the provision of hot and frozen meals to service users.

We contract for the supply of meals, frozen storage, regeneration and delivery to the service user's home.

We contract for the provision of goods and services to the kitchens of the council’s homes and day centres.

Monitoring providers

We ensure the quality of meals supplied to service users by monitoring contracts for supply of hot and frozen meals.

Working with operational managers, we monitor contracts for food supplies and catering goods and negotiate fee increases, as required.

Approval of provider

The catering section maintains details of suppliers of catering goods and equipment.

Advice and guidance

We provide advice and support to managers and staff of the council's own homes/day centres on catering issues such as nutrition, food safety and suitable equipment.

Catering support

Meals on Wheels

The Meals on Wheels service supplies over 150,000 hot or frozen individual meals a year to vulnerable service users following assessment.

The catering section manages and supports the service by:

• arranging the supply, storage and heating of meals
• organising their delivery by voluntary agencies
• arranging for meals to be 'tasted' by a panel to ensure they meet the required quality standards
• selecting menus that ensure the dietary requirements of users in accordance with agreed standards are met
• develop and train volunteers

Lunch clubs

The catering section is also responsible for the development, support and monitoring of lunch clubs serving Croydon's diverse community.

We work with existing and prospective lunch clubs to develop their services and train volunteers.

The lunch clubs are supported and assisted financially through a subsidy provided by the catering section.

The service provided is closely monitored by visits to lunch clubs.

Further information and a list of lunch clubs is available from the Contracts Unit.

• Lunch club policy
• Lunch clubs
• Lunch club leaflet