Culinary Specialist

Bethesda Culinary Specialist

To provide residents well prepared nutritious meals served with individual thoughtfulness.

Reports to: Dietary Director

Interrelationships with: Dietary team, Nursing, Activities, Business Office, Social Services, Maintenance, Laundry, Residents and Resident's families, Volunteers, Venders

External Contacts: Visitors, delivery persons

Hours of Work: Part-time evening shifts. Including every other weekend and every other holiday. Dress Code: Per Dietary Policy and Procedure

Essential Requirements of Work:

Experience:

Previous food service experience desirable

Previous long-term care experience desirable

Personal:

Must be able to read English

Write and perform mathematical formulations

Must be willing to learn

Must be able to follow directions and perform assigned tasks, be self-motivated

Must be in good physical and mental health

Must be able to work cooperatively with others in a proximity and teamwork capability

Must have efficient time management skills

Ability to complete assigned duties in required time

Job Knowledge:

Knowledge and ability to operate and maintain upkeep of large and small equipment

Understanding of daily menu requirements and personal diet requirements

Understanding of sanitation and safety requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Ability for Full Performance:

Plan work schedule for the day based upon the menu and cleaning schedule.

Meet meal time schedules

Must be able to work with and secure the cooperation of fellow dietary employees in order to implement the meal

Must work with geriatric residents showing care and empathy

Must be self motivated in the absence of the dietary manager

Must be knowledgeable in weights and measures

Must be knowledgeable in the storage of food products

Must be knowledgeable in therapeutic diets

Must be understanding of sanitation and safety measures to meet state and federal regulations

High level of proficiency and time management to meet meal regulations time

Must have the capacity to operate commercial equipment

Must be in good physical and mental health

Physical Demands of the Job:

Occasionally lifting to 50 pounds

Exposed to temperature extremes in kitchen and storage areas

Will receive education regarding safe work habits due to exposure to cuts, burns, falls, and lifting

Stand, stoop, bend, and walk during all of scheduled shift

Ability to work with detergents, chemicals and ware washing assignments

Mental Demands of the Job:

Understanding of therapeutic diets and the special needs of residents

Maintain mental alertness in order to accurately follow dietary menus and resident therapeutic diets and textures, and requests while managing time regulations

Quality Performance Results In:

Meeting the mission statement of the Dietary Department, which is serving residents nutritious meals that have a nice appearance and prepared with individual thoughtfulness

Residents are well nourished, happy and healthy

Meeting or exceeding all state and federal requirements

Effect of Error:

If resident receive incorrect food according to the menu and diet card this could result in:

Choking

Illness

Diabetic reaction

Allergic reaction

Insufficient nutrition

Improper hydration

Poor work habits can cause injury to employee or resident

Poor food and sanitation practices could cause food borne illnesses

If quality of prepared food is poor, income goes down due to decline in customers

Nutritional needs of the vulnerable are not met

Dissatisfaction among residents and families

Principle Job Responsibilities:

Ensure proper sanitation and safety measures are followed at all times.

Follows sanitation and safety techniques in operation and cleaning of all equipment.

Uses proper sanitation and safety procedures during workday.

Dish up salads, desserts, beverages, bread and condiments

Assist in dining room service of setup and serving resident's meals, recording intake of residents and cleaning up.

Prepare between meal nourishments and supplements, Delivers and cleans up snack carts

May assist in receiving and storage of food supplies

Participates positively in effective communication with nursing and family in regards to special needs of the resident

Records and carries out any resident dietary changes

Washes dishes following meals

Washes pots and pans during shift

Monitor dishwasher temperatures, procedures and performance

Complies with all facility policies

Follows through on resident's rights

Attends in-service and all necessary training

Works to meet the goals of the facility with enthusiasm and spirit of cooperation and integrity

Other jobs as assigned by Supervisor