What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dietary Aide position at Carriage Town Health & Rehab?
Job Description: Diet Aide – Skilled Nursing Facility
Job Title: Diet Aide
Department: Dietary / Food Services
Reports To: Dietary Manager or Director of Food Services
Location: Skilled Nursing Facility / Nursing Home
Job Summary
The Diet Aide assists the dietary department in providing nutritious, appetizing, and properly prepared meals to residents in a skilled nursing facility. The Diet Aide helps prepare and deliver meals, follows residents’ prescribed diets and food preferences, maintains sanitation standards, and ensures that meals are served safely and on time. The position supports the dietary team in promoting residents’ health, dignity, and overall well-being.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist with preparing, portioning, plating, and serving meals according to approved menus and dietary requirements.
- Set up dining areas, meal trays, and food carts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Deliver meal trays to residents and assist with meal service in dining rooms and resident rooms as assigned.
- Follow residents’ prescribed diets, including texture-modified diets, thickened liquids, and therapeutic diets, as directed by the facility’s dietary procedures.
- Verify resident names, meal tickets, and diet orders to help ensure the correct meals are served.
- Observe and report concerns regarding residents’ food intake, appetite, swallowing difficulties, or special dietary needs to the appropriate nursing or dietary staff.
- Maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen, dining areas, dishwashing areas, and food service equipment.
- Wash dishes, utensils, pots, pans, and trays according to facility procedures.
- Follow food safety practices, including proper food handling, storage, temperature monitoring, and infection prevention.
- Replenish food, beverages, condiments, and supplies as needed.
- Assist with receiving, storing, and rotating food and dietary supplies.
- Respect residents’ personal preferences, cultural needs, and dignity during meal service.
- Follow facility policies, state regulations, and applicable health and safety requirements.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Dietary Manager or Director of Food Services.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
- Previous food service, dietary aide, or healthcare experience preferred but not always required.
- Basic knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Good communication, teamwork, and customer service skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to interact respectfully and compassionately with older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull food carts and supplies within the facility’s established limits.
- Ability to bend, reach, and perform repetitive tasks.
- Ability to work around hot food, kitchen equipment, cleaning products, and dishwashing equipment while following safety procedures.
Work Environment and Schedule
- Work is performed in a skilled nursing facility kitchen, dining room, and resident care areas.
- Shifts may include mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Must comply with facility infection control, food safety, and resident rights policies.
Key Skills
- Attention to detail
- Food preparation and sanitation
- Time management
- Teamwork and communication
- Customer service
- Respect and compassion for residents
- Ability to follow diet orders and food service procedures
Important: The Diet Aide should not independently change a resident’s diet, make clinical nutrition recommendations, or provide feeding assistance beyond their training and authorization. Diet-related concerns should be reported to the appropriate nursing or dietary professional.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $15.50 - $17.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $16 - $18