Chef Aster Springs

Position Summary

The Chef is directly responsible for the day-to-day nutritional management and meal planning for the clients of Aster Springs (AS) and overseeing and leading the food service operations at AS.

Within the organization: Maintains frequent and close working relationships with clients, Executive Director, Nursing, Medical, Resident Care Specialist, Intake Coordinator, Therapist, peers and vendors.

Outside the organization: May initiate and maintain working relationships with clinical providers, referral partners and vendors as needed and directed.

Position Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities

1. Provides consultation with appropriate AS staff in screening client applications for the treatment program(s) based on nutritional status and making appropriate recommendations accordingly.
2. Conducts initial nutritional assessments with each new client, including diet history, dietary preferences, weights, nutritional risk, and eating disorder behaviors.
3. Sets weekly schedules for the clients as it relates to nutritional needs and will have input into the individual treatment plans.
4. Writes orders for meal plans, supplementation, protocols, and special dietary needs.
5. Consults with the physicians on an as-needed basis to ensure that the nutritional needs of individual clients are being met.
6. Educates and counsels clients to increase awareness of the importance of nutritionally balanced diets in achieving good health and recovery. Formulates an individualized meal plan, nutritional care plan and set weight goals with each client.
7. Adjust nutrition care plans with the clients as needed. The incumbent will supervise meals/snacks and portioning as deemed necessary. S/he will provide on-going nutritional consultations to clients and their families based on individual dietary needs.
8. Evaluates and monitors clients compliance with their meal planning, provides grocery store education (including grocery store challenge).
9. Maintains contact with clients outpatient dietitian to provide updates on progress and recommendations for discharge.
10. Conducts nutrition group, cooking group, and physical activity groups, as well as, conducting the nutrition talk during Family Days and conducting individual weekly or twice-weekly sessions with the clients.
11. Responsible for proper documentation and charting and ensuring that all documentation is completed in a timely manner.
12. Approves menus and snacks for the clients and ensures that the quality and quantity of food is adequate and works closely with the dietary care specialist team in meal planning for clients including food preferences and allergens.
13. Set up aftercare as it pertains to nutrition.
14. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications related to Aster Springs Mission and population.
15. Hire, train, schedule, and supervise dietary care specialist team, members.
16. Create AS menus, including special dietary needs of clients, in collaboration with dietitians and the Director of Therapeutic Services.
17. Oversee purchasing, preparation, service, and cleaning of all client-related food activities.
18. Prepare kitchens and staff for review by regulatory bodies and ensure operations are in compliance with all health and food-related standards.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Functions within the guidelines of the facilitys Code of Ethics and in accordance with corporate compliance.
2. Assists in promoting and ensuring that the mission, goals, and objectives of SH are understood and actively supported by the employees.
3. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications related to Aster Springs Mission and population.
4. Assist in the development and implementation of SHs medical policies and procedures and assist in the education of both clients and staff. Provides a high level of customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
5. Accomplishes organization mission by completing other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Position requires an associate degree in Foodservice Management or equivalent and 3 years’ experience in a Food Management position within a healthcare setting, and a minimum of 1 year experience in a leadership position.  A ServSafe Manager Food Handler Certification required.  Experience in treating eating disorders  is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to communicate with peers, clients, families’ other facilities and/or vendors.
• Performs duties that require the employee to sit or remain stationary for extended periods of time.
• Job performance will require the ability to move throughout the building and may require walking around facility grounds.
• While performing duties may be required to sit stationary for long periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to talk or hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste, or smell.
• Ability to move up to 50 pounds.

Additional Requirements

• Position requires incumbent to have a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and acceptable driving record. 
• Clearance of TB test, [insert background clearance requirements if applicable], and any other mandatory state/federal requirements.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification.
• ServeSafe Certification

Skill Competencies

• Demonstrates strong problem solving and analytical skills and the ability to use sound judgement.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, while building and maintaining professional relationships.
• Demonstrates the ability to accurately assess participants utilizing the standards of care.
• Demonstrates an elevated level of customer service.
• Demonstrates an elevated level of organizing and prioritizing skills.
• Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Follows meal plans, supplementation, protocols, and special dietary needs.
• Approves menus for the clients and ensures that the quality and quantity of food is adequate.
• Includes religious, cultural, and ethnic preferences when completing nutrition assessments.
• Conducts nutrition group and cooking groups for clients.
• Sets nutrition goals in care plan process.
• Completes assessments and appropriately summarizes the results.
• Prepares kitchen and staff for review by regulatory bodies and ensures operations are in compliance.
• Respects participants confidentiality.

Aster Springs Tennessee provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Company reserves the rights to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires.  This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise.  The employment relationship remains “At-Will.” 

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