Dietary Cook

Reports to

Manager of Dietary Services

Summary/Objective

In keeping with our organization’s goal of improving the lives of the Guests we serve, the Cook position is responsible for providing nourishing food to Guests, and employees under sanitary conditions as directed and in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Cook will help to assure that the dietary department is maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner by providing assistance in all dietary functions and providing supervision to all dietary aides.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide nutritional meals to guests, staff and visitors as directed.
• Plans meals far enough ahead to minimize the need for food substations.
• Works closely with facility dietitian to ensure meals meet nutritional needs of the
  
  
  

guests.

• Makes changes to meal plans when necessary with approval from the Director of Dietary Services.
• Ensures food supplies are appropriate and places orders when necessary.
• Oversees food tray line to ensure trays are prepared according to diet cards in an efficient manner to meet scheduled meal and snack times.
• Provide supervision to dietary aides as directed.
• Assure that established sanitation policies and procedures are followed at all times in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.
• Follow established safety precautions when preforming tasks and using equipment and supplies.
• Assure that work area is clean and free of hazardous conditions such as spills, excess carts, and etc.
• Assure that equipment, tools and supplies are properly stored at all times.
• Report all equipment malfunctions and breakdowns to the supervisor and keep the supervisor informed of supply needs.
• Report all hazardous conditions and equipment along with any accidents/incidents to the Dietary Manager.
• Maintains the comfort, privacy and dignity of Guests and interacts with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.
• Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfully with Guests, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.
• Ensure each Guest receives person centered care.
• Attend and participate in meetings and in-services as directed or scheduled.
• Recognize your role as part of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) efforts of your organization.
• Attend trainings to build understanding and capacity to undertake QAPI work.
• Carry out QAPI roles and responsibilities as assigned.
• Follow established policies and procedures in support of QAPI efforts.
• Any noted opportunities for improvement will be shared with leadership in the
  
  
  

organization.

• Communicate to leadership upon witnessing a positive outcome of a QAPI project or
  
  
  

detecting barriers preventing project success.

• Support QAPI efforts both verbally and non-verbally (i.e., via actions and attitude), including adjusting performance and practice in accordance with QAPI initiatives and findings.
• Participate in compliance trainings as scheduled and adhere to compliance plan.
  
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility

This position supervises the Dietary Aide.

Work Environment

This job operates in a health care setting. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the facility while pulling or pushing dietary carts. This position works mostly in the dietary department which can experience extreme temperature changes from excessive heat in the cooking area to freezing temperatures in walk-in freezers. This role may also come into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping on a regular basis. The employee must be able to lift and move items weighing at least 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This position is part of a health care facility that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a

year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Required Education And Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Food Sanitation Certification.
  
  
  

Preferred Education And Experience

• One year experience as a Cook.
  
  
  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.