Accept responsibility for preparation of therapeutic and routine Resident meals as approved by a Dietician. Follows standardized recipes to achieve appetizing and nutritious food in large quantities.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Assure Resident safety at all times.
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Willing to address each Resident by his/her preferred name as well as learn and abide by Residents’ Rights, rules and regulations.
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Commitment to work well with other staff avoiding petty conflicts that disrupt a productive work environment. Does not participate in facility gossip and rumors.
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Follows standardized recipes and makes appropriate substitutions when necessary.
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Accept change in a positive and productive manner.
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Commute to and from work on a regular, dependable basis.
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Prepare each meal according to established serving times by closely supervising cooking schedules.
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Maintain equipment in a clean and well-functioning manner.
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Maintain confidentiality of all activities, persons, and records.
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Supervise other dietary employees.
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Prepare attractive, tasty foods and nutritious meals and snacks by ensuring food is palatable and appetizing.
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Prepare food carefully to avoid wastefulness and supervises portions served.
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Take care not to overcook or undercook food.
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Provide correctly labeled snacks between meals as needed.
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Ensure safe preparation of foods served by using good personal hygiene and utilizing correct sanitary techniques during food preparation, handling and serving.
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Adhere to established dietary policies and procedures.
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Ensure compliance with Residents Rights by giving consideration to individual Residents’ likes and dislikes and by calling Resident by his/her preferred name.
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Prepare special diets as ordered by physician.
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Alter food texture for edentulous Residents or Residents who have difficulty with chewing and/or swallowing.
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Season food, or not, in compliance with established regimens.
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Prepare adequate amounts of eternal feedings to last through the night. (when applicable)
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Exercise prudent independent judgment and follow through with preparation of meals without supervision.
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Make independent decisions regarding substitution of items in recipes.
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Take initiative in utilizing leftover food.
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Accurately estimate quantities of food required for each meal.
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Be familiar with optimal methods of preparing meats according to cuts.
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Store raw and cooked food in proper containers and in correct locations.
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Maintain efficient workflow by following standardized work methods.
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Demonstrate flexibility in adapting and to unexpected changes in routine.
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Closely follow timetable for schedule duties to ensure that food does not set too long before serving, and to ensure meals are ready to serve at established times.
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Store equipment in proper place ready for next use.
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Report malfunctioning equipment or lack of supplies to supervisor immediately.
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Resident preferences are followed when providing care and service.
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Maintain Resident privacy, values and right for decision making.
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Immediately notify supervisor and Executive Director for any injury, illness, or if develop a condition, that might impact the aptitude to perform job functions.
Ancillary Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform duties in compliance with established policies and procedures.
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Note changes in Resident’s condition and report immediately to charge nurse or Director of Nursing.
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Report on and off duty at assigned times.
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Establish and maintain positive rapport with administration, interdepartmental personnel, volunteers, Residents, visitors and outside agency representatives.
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Maintains an attitude of support for department activities.
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Remain alert to health safety standards by reporting expediently to his/her Director of Dietary suspected unsafe conditions.
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Adhere to employee health and safety program by consistently washing hands before handling food products and wearing gloves when indicated by activity.
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Obtain timely annual TB tests.
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Do not work during periods of illness that might transmit disease.
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Is careful to avoid contamination of food.
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Adhere to safety policies and procedures by demonstrating proper body mechanics when lifting, bending and stooping.
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Demonstrate proper precautions to avoid accidental fires and bodily injuries.
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Responds according to policies and procedures during fire/disaster drills and emergencies.
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Be receptive to constructive feedback from co-workers and supervisors.
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Establish annual objectives by achieving at least two (2) objectives related to job in a twelve-month period and setting personal goals for self-fulfillment.
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Attend in-services or seminars as often as possible and apply new knowledge in day–to-day job performance.
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Secure department during off-duty hours.
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Be creative in utilization of leftovers to avoid excess waste.
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Accepts additional assignments within scope of training, education or experience that may be assigned from time to time by the Director of Dietary.
Resident Rights
- Maintain the confidentiality of all Resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
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Ensure that the Resident’s rights to fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, property and civil rights, including the right to wage complaints, are well established and maintained at all times.
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Review Resident complaints and grievances and make written reports of action taken. Discuss such actions with Resident and family as appropriate.
Safety and Sanitation
- Ensure that you and all facility personnel, Residents, visitors, etc., follow established safety regulations, to include fire protection/prevention, smoking regulations, infection control, etc.
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Ensure that the building and grounds are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner as well as in good working order by reporting all concerns to management.
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Ensure that you and all facility personnel follow established regulations governing the use of labels and SDSs for hazardous chemicals.
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Ensure that facility procedure manuals identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could cause bodily injury or exposure to a hazardous chemical or infectious waste.
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Ensure that you and all facility personnel follow established ergonomics policies and procedures to prevent self-injury.
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Ensure that you and all facility personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals are appropriately trained prior to performing such tasks.
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Some experience in institutional cooking.
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Knowledge of food preparation, sanitation and hygienic methods.
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Follow verbal and written instructions.
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Sincere desire to work with elders and others who have a limited capacity for self-care.
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Mental and physical capacity to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.
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Work with and provides care to individuals of a wide range of personality types and maturity levels.
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Demonstrate creative initiative and mature judgment in making competent decisions.
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Consistently maintain courteous, empathetic, and professional attitude.
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Maintain a professional appearance at all times.
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Communicate and comprehend orally and in writing to effectively receive and share information as necessary to perform job duties.
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Transportation accessible to enable flexibility of work schedule.
Work Environment
WORKING ENVIRONMENT: All statements addressed in the "Working Hours," "Environment" and "Physical/Sensory Demands" sections below are applicable to all jobs maintained by the employer.
Working Hours: The employee will
- Be employed on a full-time, part-time or PRN (as needed) basis. May be subject to change after employment.
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Work unusual hours as necessary and as required.
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Be expected and required to adhere to policies and procedures regarding attendance.
