Prep Cook

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The Prep Cook will accurately and efficiently prepare, portion, cook, and present a variety of hot and/or cold food items for various meal periods: to include Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Special/Catered Events. Responsible for the preparation of food for residents in a Senior Living / Healthcare environment. Standardized recipes to achieve proper quantities and consistent high quality. Maintain a high standard of sanitation within the department and ensure requirements are met in accordance with organization standards as well as federal, state, and local regulation.

Essential Responsibilities:

Food preparation

• Prepares and cooks to order foods that may require short preparation time.
• May prepare food and serve customers at an a la carte and may operate a grill station.
• Prepares food in accordance with current applicable federal, state, and corporate standards, guidelines, and regulations to ensure high-quality food service is provided.
• Reads food order or receives verbal instructions on food required by patron and prepares and cooks food according to instructions.
• Provides the highest quality of service to customers.
• Follows basic recipes and/or product directions for preparing, seasoning, cooking, tasting, carving, and serving soups, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other foodstuffs for consumption in eating establishments.
• Prepares foods under direct supervision or instruction by operating a variety of kitchen equipment to measure and mix ingredients, washing, peeling, cutting and shredding fruits and vegetables, and trimming and cutting meat, poultry, or fish for culinary use.
• Tastes products, reads menus, estimates food requirements, checks production, and keeps records in order to accurately plan production requirements and requisition supplies and equipment.
• Attends all allergy and foodborne illness in-service training and applies principles of food safety to food preparation and sanitation practices.
• Receive inventory, move, and lift foodstuffs and supplies and prepare meals for customers requiring special diets.
• May produce some batch goods using basic cooking technique.
• Take and record temperatures and correct temperature discrepancies.

Cleaning, Storage and Sanitation

• Clean and sanitize workstations and equipment and must follow all regulatory rules and procedures.
• Assist with set ups. Break down and clean up serving lines and other food areas.
• Properly record and label, with appropriate dates and store properly.

Safety and Risk Management

• Complies with all company safety and risk management policies and procedures.
• Participates in regular safety meetings, safety training and hazard assessments.
• Attends training programs (classroom and virtual) as designated.

Education and Work Experience:

Required Degree: High school diploma

Certificate(s):

• Current Food Handler's Permit is required.
• Training in Servsafe is beneficial.
• State sanitation certificate.

Experience:

• Desired is 0-2 years of related food service experience.
• Experience with basic operation of kitchen equipment is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Good working knowledge of a kitchen environment and food preparation.
• Must be able to communicate effectively (verbal and written, English) with residents and staff.
• Must be able to read and understand written instructions and follow safety practices and ability to read and follow a recipe unsupervised.
• Ability to use basic functions of a computer.
• Must be cordial and congenial with residents.
• Must be dependable, detail oriented, organized, and have good follow through.
• Must be able to work within standard policy and procedures, and work with limited direct supervision.
• Must be able to handle various tasks and functions.
• Must be able to react calmly in emergency situations.
• Must show patience and compassion to senior adults.
• Must be considerate of resident's comfort, safety, security, and belongings.
• Demonstrate the ability to set and establish priorities.
• Manages time efficiently.
• Maintains work area in a neat and orderly manner.
• Maintains a well-groomed appearance that complies with organizational and State food code standards. Ability to adhere to dress code and kitchen uniform requirements.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and understanding of food safety, sanitation, preparation and serving principles.
• Ability to work with all persons and must have the ability to get along and socialize with them. This includes employees, residents, families, visitors, vendors, other health care professionals and the community at large.
• Ability to work on some holidays and flexible hours.

Physical Requirements:

• May be required to lift or carry equipment or supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent stooping, bending, climbing, reaching, pulling / pushing, and extended periods walking and/or standing.
• May be required to stand, sit, twist, bend, squat, kneel or crouch when performing job duties
• Must possess adequate sight and hearing to meet the responsibilities of this position.
• Ability to work in a standing position for extended periods of time (up to 8 hours).
• While performing this job's duties, the employee is primarily in a controlled, temperate environment; however, may be exposed to heat/cold during support of outside activities.

Compensation Pay Range:

$20.40 - $25.00 per hour

A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $20.40 - $25.00 per hour. There are numerous factors taken into consideration in determining the actual offered rate of pay, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, experience, skills, education, geographic location, and consideration of internal and external equity.

For full time employees, we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Employer paid group term life and disability
• Paid Time Off (PTO) & six paid holidays
• 403(b) with a 3% employer match
• Fitness center use at most facilities.
• Various voluntary benefits:
• Life, AD&D
• Tuition assistance and scholarships
• Employee assistance program
• Legal services, home/auto insurance, discount purchasing program
• Pet Insurance

Covenant Living and CovenantCare at Home are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by local laws, regulations, or ordinances.