Food Services Assistant

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital At Houston Methodist, the Food Services Assistant (FSA) position is responsible for performing a variety of duties in the kitchen, patient tray line, and/or retail areas such as assisting in tray assembly for patients, simple food preparation, serving customers, and setting up to include replenishing stations. This position transports food carts to and from kitchen areas to patient care units and/or conference rooms in a timely manner and will perform dishwashing duties as assigned. The FSA communicates with peers and management regarding identified hazards in the workplace, following correct procedures in cleaning equipment and sanitizing work areas, along with special cleaning as assigned. This position follows all departmental policies and procedures and complies with relevant local Food Ordinances. FLSA Status Non‑exempt Qualifications Education High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post‑secondary education, etc.) preferred Experience Experience in a food service environment or large service establishment preferred Licenses and Certifications Food Handlers Permit – Accredited food handler training course approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS) or by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Skills and Abilities Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co‑workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles Working knowledge of Serve Safe guidelines and Health department standards Knowledge of food service equipment and sanitation principles Demonstrates active listening skills, giving full attention to what other people are saying Knowledge of kitchen equipment Essential Functions People Essential Functions Interacts in a positive, professional manner with patients, visitors and staff. Communicates clearly and professionally to promote work efforts and problem resolution. Works in conjunction with the Patient Services, Catering, Retail Services and Production staff as part of a team ensuring each delivery is accurately prepared and on time. Follows through with resolving problems as they arise and provides leadership with a full report when issues are identified. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer‑to‑peer accountability. Service Essential Functions Prepares and serves simple food items as directed by production sheet or menu. Delivers trays with accuracy and efficiency to designated locations to achieve established time frame for room service or traditional service meal delivery. Assists with assembling of trays on tray‑line as needed. Works in the dish room as assigned. Transports pantry supplies, garbage, cardboard, and supplies to designated areas. Maintains clean, orderly storage areas with all food items. Retrieves soiled trays, returns carts in a timely manner to appropriate location. Performs patient tray setup and ensures all supplies stocked for patient tray line each meal period. Quality / Safety Essential Functions Follows proper procedure in loading and transporting of food delivery carts to prevent spillage and delay of meal delivery to the patient. Accurately maintains food cart delivery log. Ensures food served is presented attractively and is held at the proper temperature. Follows all relevant local Food Ordinances including labeling, dating, rotating food items, and discarding food beyond the expiration date. Ensures the service area is clean and sanitized. Follows the menu paying close attention to details. Reviews menus in advance to ensure supplies are in‑house. Utilizes downtime for preparation of setups to ensure menus are ready at the specified time. Finance Essential Functions Minimizes food waste through portion control and ensures proper use and storage of food, supplies, and equipment to reduce departmental cost and expenses. Utilizes resources with cost‑effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self‑motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed. Growth / Innovation Essential Functions Generates and communicates new ideas and suggestions that will improve quality or service. Seeks opportunities to identify self‑development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis. Supplemental Requirements Work Attire Uniform: Yes Scrubs: No Business professional: No Other (department approved): Yes On‑Call Note that employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (i.e., disaster, severe weather events, etc.) regardless of selection below. On Call: No Travel Travel specifications may vary by department May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: No May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr