Dietary Aide
Job Description
Overview:
Prepares and serves palatable, nourishing, well-balanced diets to meet the daily nutritional and special dietary needs of each Resident. Assists in dishwashing operations and cleaning tasks.
Qualifications:
- Freedom from illegal use of drugs.
- Freedom from use of and effects of use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
- Persons who have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating individuals in a health care related setting are ineligible for employment in the position.
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Prefer one year’s experience as food service aide in an institutional food service setting.
Language Skills:
Must be able to express self adequately in written and oral communication and to communicate effectively with supervisor and staff members.
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 solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each key function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the key functions.
Care and Services:
- Handles and stores all food according to facility procedures and safe food handling guidelines.
- Assists with food preparation as assigned by supervisor.
- Prepares food items according to standardized recipes, insuring safe food handling practices.
- Operates institutional food preparation equipment according to manufacturer and supervisory direction.
- Assists with the set-up of the food tray line.
- Assembles diet trays for Residents according to facility procedures, matching food, drinks, and condiments to the diet cards of individual residents.
- Verifies that each Resident is receiving the correct diet and tray.
- Loads tray carts to dining areas and Resident units. Carries individual trays to units, when necessary.
- Reports refusal of food served to supervisor and to the Charge Nurse so alternate meal can be provided. Prepares and serves alternates as directed.
- Cleans dishes, utensils and equipment according to facility procedures.
- Runs and maintains dish machine according to manufacturer directions.
- Reports all equipment problems to supervisor promptly.
- Prepares and delivers nourishment, food supplements and snacks to units as scheduled.
- Maintains food service equipment in clean and safe operating condition at all times according to facility procedures. Cleans workspaces, cooking and serving equipment, trays and dishes according to department procedures.
- Reports any signs of rodent or pests to supervisor immediately.
- Reports injury to self or others to supervisor immediately.
- Communicates with supervisor throughout shift.
- Assists the Dietary Manager with state inspection preparation. Attends survey training and interacts with surveyors as instructed.
Resident Rights:
Promotes and protects resident’s rights; assists residents to make informed decisions; treats residents with dignity and respect; protects residents; personal belongings; reports suspected abuse or neglect; avoids the need for physical restraints in accordance with current professional standards; supports independent expression, choice and decision-making consistent with applicable law and regulation.
Leadership:
Demonstrates willingness to try new tasks; generates new ideas for change; evaluates and recognizes priorities; selects effective team members; challenges others to learn; keeps current and integrates new information; communicates and models organization values; fosters high performance; recognizes need for and provides adequate resources.
Process Improvement:
Applies process improvement methods and techniques and identifies processes for improvement in daily work.
Environment of Care:
Demonstrates understanding of fire and emergence procedures; participates in fire and disaster drills; maintains emergency supplies and equipment; demonstrates understanding of safety and security procedures; applies safety and security precautions; demonstrates understanding of hazardous materials plan; demonstrates proper use of equipment.
Infection Control:
Applies hand washing principles during daily work; demonstrates understanding of isolation precautions; recognizes signs and symptoms of infection and complies with the employee health program; demonstrates understanding of the process for identifying and handling infectious waste; maintains personal hygiene; complies with OSHA standards in the workplace; and demonstrates understanding of cross contamination.
Information Management:
Enters or records data timely and accurately; protects confidentiality of Resident information; protects data against loss or destruction; logs onto the system using own password; logs off the system when leaving the workstation; reports suspected violations of security/confidentiality issues; reviews data and identifies trends.
Interpersonal Skills:
Demonstrates active listening techniques; gains support through effective relationships; treats others with dignity and respect; seeks feedback; sets clear standards for performance; evaluates job performance and proved effective feedback; establishes systems to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and service; creates and maintains reporting mechanisms.
Continuing Education:
Attends in-service, continuing education, and educational programs.
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 frequently required to stand and walk. Stooping, bending, lifting and carrying, as well as other physical demands may be required. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described are a representative of those 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 occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Job Description Review:
I understand this job description, its requirements, and that I am expected to complete all duties as assigned. I understand the job duties may be altered from time to time. I have noted below any accommodations that are required to enable me to perform these duties. I have also noted below any job duties that I am unable to perform, with or without accommodation.
