DOMESTIC COUPLE - DORSET

OWERMOIGNE, DORSET –6 miles from Dorchester

DOMESTIC COUPLE—COOK/HOUSEKEEPER & DRIVER/HOUSEMAN

Essential Requirements – Previous experience in domestic service with longevity in previous positions. Confident cook of fresh and healthy dishes. Adaptable, flexible and good team players. Ideally both to drive. Fluent English essential.

 Large Country House on an estate in glorious Thomas Hardy Country. The house totals 12 bedrooms, 8 of which are en-suite and although most of the time the principals, a mature couple, live alone here, they do have a large and extended family who will be visiting 3-4 times per year including over Christmas and Easter holidays.

This is an informal family home, there will be some entertaining during the year, but mostly all will be on an informal or semi-formal basis and mainly for family and friends.

 Part time cleaning assistance is available for general duties one day per week, but the couple should ideally be able to cover all indoor tasks between them.

General duties will be running the household, cleaning, laundry, traditional, fresh, healthy cooking to dinner party standard, serving and minor household maintenance.

You will be required to prepare a light lunch when requested and a 2-course dinner ( main course and dessert) each evening.

Gardeners are employed so there is no gardening requirement, but one of the couple should be able to care for and keep the fleet of cars (including a Bentley) clean and well maintained. There will be some driving duties, mostly local but occasionally an airport run. A full-time handyperson is employed but assistance with pressure washing of terraces, paving and patio areas is welcomed.

There is currently one black labrador dog which you will need to walk and care for if the principals are away.

A degree of flexibility is required, as when the extended family visit the days will be longer and weekends will need to be worked, time off can be accumulated and then taken in lieu.  However, outside these times the working days will be well structured and most weekends are free.

 This position requires an experienced couple that have a good understanding of private domestic service requirements.

Salary circa £80,000 Gross. Self-contained private 2-bedroom apartment, in the West wing of the house. 2 days off per week and use of a car for business related errands. Sorry this position is not suitable for couples that have dependents, although a small well-behaved dog will be considered. Non-smokers are essential and ideally both of the couple must drive. ASAP Start. (REF: CC0780)