Dietary Aides

Description

Job Title:                Dietary Aide

Reports To:           Director of Food and Nutrition Services

Department:          Dietary

FLSA Status:         Non-exempt

Work Schedule:     Part-time/Full-time flexible schedule

SUMMARY

Provides food set up, preparation and general cleaning in the Dietary Department to ensure meals are prepared and served to residents in a timely manner in accordance with their meal plans.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Provides for optimal dining experience for the residents

1. Assists with food preparation.
2. Sets up tray and wagon for service of food to residents and staff.
3. Cleans dishes, utensils and trays ensuring sanitary condition.
4. Obtains food supplies from store rooms.
5. Reads and understands therapeutic break-downs, menus, individual diet codes and tray cards.
6. Operates kitchen machinery in accordance with standards and procedures.
7. Visits residents daily for lunch and supper menu in absence of Dining Room Manager.
8. Directs resident concerns, questions, and suggestions to food service supervisor.
9. Follows through with guidelines for proper dining environment, notifying staff.
10. Assists with setup for meal service on resident units. Set up includes preparing all food items and all items needed for meal service, plates, utensils, special equipment needed and all adaptive equipment.
11. Prepares desserts, special resident requests and items needed for meal service on units.  Separates and make sure all items on menus are on units or in cool check containers.
12. Must be able to read breakdown menu, be aware of all resident food allergies, to be able to measure, prepare all food items within diet orders.
13. Must be able to read and understand resident’s diets, allergies, fluid restrictions, for service from hot carts on units.
14. To complete dish room assignments as needed.
15. Keeps store room in order and puts away stock.

Safety and Infection Control

1. Adheres to infection control policies and procedures as established by facility.
2. Adheres to dietary isolation policies and procedures.
3. Immediately reports potential exposure, hazard or unsafe condition to supervisor.

Promotes the mission and image of the Home

1. Maintains resident privacy and confidentiality.
2. Promotes a professional image by adhering to the established dress code as evidenced by supervisor observation.
3. Complies and promotes all rules regarding resident rights.
4. Demonstrates cooperation and teamwork with peers and other departments.
5. Engages in positive customer service interaction with residents, families and visitors.
6. Takes ownership of an error in delivery of service and works to correct the problem.
7. Contributes to meeting the fluctuating staffing needs of the department as evidenced by flexibility in own assignments and work schedules.
8. Attends all mandatory education and in-service programs as indicated by attendance records.
9. Displays good attendance and is punctual.

The Mary Wade Five

1. The six foot rule – whenever you come within six feet of someone, smile and say hello
2. Listen to Understand – listen sincerely – with your ears, eyes and heart – and without prejudice or judgment
3. Whatever it takes – do whatever it takes to get the job done, make someone’s day, do the right thing
4. Common Cents – be responsible with the Home’s resources as we must operate within our means.
5. Pride in Appearance – we are all responsible for keeping Mary Wade neat, well maintained, and professional looking – this extends to our personal appearance and areas of work.

Completes documentation in an accurate and timely fashion

1. Completes and submits checklists as required by supervisor.
2. Keeps up with nourishment and dietary kardex as changes occur                                                                  and as indicated by Cook or Food Service Supervisor.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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 and/or EXPERIENCE

No prior experience or training.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, write and speak in English.  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Sensitivity to the needs of the elderly in a healthcare setting.
2. Good interpersonal skills.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 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.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and extreme heat.  The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock.  The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and extreme cold.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE  This job description falls into Category II Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.  Appropriate protective measures are readily available to every employee engaged in Category II tasks.    The Home will make available, free of charge, the Hepatitis B Vaccination and necessary TB testing.