Adult Residential Services - Dietary Aid

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

As a Dietary Aide/Assistant at a 78-bed substance use disorder residential facility, your primary responsibility will be to support the Cook in providing nutritional balanced meals that are diabetic-friendly and incorporate farm-to-table ingredients. You will assist in meal preparation, kitchen organization, and ensuring the dietary needs of the residents are met. Initiate Resident and cafeteria meal tray assembly. Complete cold food preparation assembling salads, sandwiches and desserts as assigned. Move food trays and carts from resident care and other areas of the residential center. Assist in receiving supplies from vendors and restocking supplies to all areas of the department and resident rooms as assigned. Assist with serving food for residents, as assigned. Deliver floor stock, snack items and other supplies as assigned. Restock all service areas as assigned. Operates pot sink and dish machine as assigned. Maintain a clean, sanitary work environment. Remove and dispose garbage from all areas of the food services areas. Assist in other areas and tasks as assigned. Follow departmental and organizational policies. Maintain clean and sanitary work environment and equipment.

Key Responsibilities:  

1.   Meal Preparation: Assist the Cook in preparing meals according to established recipes, ensuring proper portion control, cooking techniques, and adherence to food safety standards. Pay special attention to creating diabetic-friendly meals, limiting added sugars and carbohydrates. 

2.   Farm-to-Table Approach: Assist in sourcing and incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, supporting a farm-to-table approach to enhance the nutritional value and taste of the meals.

3.   Dietary Accommodations: Collaborate with the Cook to accommodate special dietary needs of the residents, such as vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets. Ensure that all meals meet the specific requirements and preferences of the residents.

4.   Kitchen Organization: Help maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment. Assist with inventory management, proper storage of ingredients, and equipment maintenance.

5.   Meal Service: Support the Cook in ensuring that meals are delivered to residents in a timely and professional manner. Assist in setting up meal service areas, including portioning and plating meals according to established guidelines.

6.   Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with the Cook and other team members to ensure smooth operations and effective communication. Share feedback, suggestions, and resident preferences to improve the quality of meals and resident satisfaction.

7.   Food Safety and Sanitation: Follow food safety regulations and practices, including proper food handling, storage, and cleanliness of kitchen and dining areas. Maintain a high standard of hygiene and sanitation to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff.

8.   Other duties as assigned.

By focusing on providing nutritional balanced meals, diabetic-friendly options, and supporting a farm-to-table approach, you will contribute to the overall health and well-being of the residents at the substance use disorder residential facility. Your role as a Dietary Assistant is vital in ensuring that residents receive meals that meet their dietary needs and contribute to their recovery journey.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Performs tasks defined by the major intent of the position.

• Prepares and portions food items and beverages for residents before beginning the appointed hours of operation following sanitation guidelines.
• Assist with preparation and service for cafeteria areas as assigned.
• Completes routine and non-routine assignments in accordance to daily tasks in areas assigned.
• Operates the dishwasher according to directions and policies.
• Operates the three compartment sink according to directions and policies.
• Retrieves and transports soiled trays, carts, and other food service equipment and foods from food service residential areas following safety and sanitary guidelines.
• Delivers food and supplies to food service areas as assigned.

Performs a variety of cleaning and organizing activities.

• Maintains a clean neat work environment. 
• Performs all cleaning duties in accordance with established schedule, procedure and standards for sanitation. Cleans counters, tables, chairs and other food service equipment as assigned.
• Clean ovens, ranges, warming cabinets, carts, grills, steamers, deep fat fryers, char broilers, steam tables and other equipment as assigned.
• Cleans floors, walls, ceilings, windows and ledges, wall mount fans, air return grills, shelving and other items in immediate work environment and other as assigned.
• Properly use all chemicals according to written instructions on product label and guidelines in cleaning manual.
• Takes care in stacking and organizing items when handling, cleaning or storing to protect from breakage and other damage.
• Separates and reports items that do not meet health code standards to supervisor for disposition.
• Efficiently replenish food and supplies in food service areas in order to maintain productive workflow.
• Sweep, scrub and mop floors as scheduled or more often as needed.
• Cleans and washes trashcans, mops and buckets, cleaning equipment, recycle receptacles, stationary equipment and storage areas.

Uses safety/sanitation procedures to protect self and others.

• Incurs no harm to self or others due to failure to use proper body mechanics.
• Follows prescribed sanitation and infection control procedures when handling food, working in food preparation areas, or when cleaning.
• Immediately removes malfunctioning equipment from use and directly reports same to supervisor or lead when found.
• Does not attempt to use or clean equipment without proper training and documentation of such.
• Uses cleaning supplies and equipment according to written instructions on product labels and guidelines

Perform miscellaneous activities

• Participates in departmental and organizational training and in-service activities by attending meetings, participating in training and/or reading materials.
• Actively participates in minimizing waste of all foods and supplies.
• Accomplishes assigned quality assurance and quality improvement activities as specified and participates in discussions and problem-solving on related issues.
• Effectively explains and demonstrates procedures and answers questions when participating in the orientation or training of other employees.
• Accomplishes routine and non-routine assignments in accordance with procedure, instructions, and time frames.
• Follows prescribed sanitation and infection control procedures when handling food, working in food preparation areas, and when cleaning.
• Maintain food safety guidelines for all foods in responsible area.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

Minimum Required:

• Must possess at a minimum High School Diploma/GED.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and recipes. 
• Ability to calculate simple math equations.
• Clear Healthcare Registry report.

Preferred:

• Previous experience as a dietary aide, kitchen assistant, or similar role in a food service setting is preferred. Experience in a healthcare or residential facility is a plus.
• Six months food service experience.
• Servesafe food handler certification.

Additional Knowledge/Skills:

• Basic understanding of nutrition principles, dietary restrictions, and food safety practices. Familiarity with diabetic-friendly meal preparation and farm-to-table concepts is beneficial.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. Willingness to adapt to changing priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail to ensure accurate portioning, proper food handling, and adherence to dietary needs. Maintain a clean and organized kitchen environment.
• Effective communication skills to interact with residents, kitchen staff, and other team members. Ability to follow instructions and communicate any concerns or suggestions.
  Incumbent must demonstrate an ability to apply age-appropriate principles of communication during interaction with others.
• Incumbent must demonstrate competence in the use of equipment and application of procedures before being allowed to perform independently.