Dietary Cook needed at NHC HealthCare Laurens

The Dietary Cook performs cooking duties in order to maintain high standards of quality food preparation and sanitation.

Qualifications:

• Must have a sincere interest in food service and enjoy working with geriatric and other healthcare patients.
• Must have, or be willing to learn, food preparation and cooking skills.
• Must have knowledge of, or be willing to learn, therapeutic and modified diet information to use in preparing and serving patient trays.
• Must be able to read and interpret standardized recipes for quantity and quality food production.
• Must have knowledge, or be willing to learn, correct sanitation procedures and use these daily.
• Must be willing to perform repetitive tasks daily.
• Must possess and use excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Must be able to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Must be able to read and understand labels on chemicals and MSDS sheets and be able to use these products safely and correctly.
• Must be in good mental and physical condition.
• Must possess leadership qualities and be able to supervise and secure the cooperation of the dietary partners.
• Must work cooperatively and productively with all partners in dietary and in all departments following established policies of the center.
• Must be willing to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, must be at work on time and during scheduled shift.
• May be required to have or obtain a Food Handlers Certificate or Sanitation Course, as required by state regulations.
• Must be able to work under supervision.
• Mandatory rotating weekend schedule.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Are determined by the center and may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Must demonstrate qualities of being a self-starter and be able to make independent decisions when necessary.
• Must be able to manage the dietary department in the absence of the dietary manager when necessary and act as the supervisor when the manager or assistant manager is not available.
• Has a thorough understanding of all regulations (local, state, and federal) which affect dietary including, but not limited to, patient care, sanitation, labor, fire, safety, and disaster and complies with these regulations.
• Assists in maintaining the dietary department in a safe, secure, and sanitary manner and reports any problems to the dietary manager.
• Uses good judgment in conserving supplies, preventing food waste, and conserving utilities. Reports and food, supply, and equipment needs or concerns to the dietary manager.
• Assists in receiving and storing food and supplies to prevent waste and assure quality products. Dates, labels, and stores items properly. Uses proper food handling techniques.
• Reviews menus, therapeutic menus, recipes, and production sheets before preparing meals and prepares and serves all diets properly, accurately, and attractively as planned using proper portions and special diet items.
• Follows standardized recipes and special diet orders, preparing sufficient quantities to meet all service requirements.
• Responsible for testing and tasting foods for proper appearance, flavor, aroma, and temperature and adjusting if needed.
• Responsible for timing of preparation of meals/snacks to meet time schedule for service for all customers and ensures that all meals/snacks are served as scheduled.
• Portions food on plate during tray service according to standards. Checks trays for accuracy of diets, preferences, and quality before they are delivered. Serves on tray line and delivers carts to floors as needed.
• Follows menus provided; if menu substitutions are necessary, records these substitutions in designated place.
• Must show initiative in choosing garnishes, seasonings according to patient/resident preferences, the use of leftovers, and in food presentation and service.
• Attends in-service and other necessary training.
• Keeps work area clean and uncluttered and completes assigned cleaning duties. Responsible for the proper use, care, cleanliness, and sanitation of kitchen and equipment.
• Communicates and cooperates with the staff, patients, and their families.
• Process new diet orders and diet changes when received from nursing service and keeps tray cards updated in absence of dietary manager.
• Adheres to the dress code for the department.
• Performs other tasks.

NHC HealthCare Laurens is located at 379 Pinehaven St. Ext., Laurens, SC 29360