Evening Dietary Cook/Aide

Dietary Cook / Dietary Aide

Department: Dietary Services / Food and Nutrition Services Reports To: Dietary Manager, Director of Dietary Services, or Administrator Employment Status: Part-Time Location: Long-Term Care Facility

Position Summary

The Dietary Cook/Dietary Aide is responsible for preparing, cooking, serving, and delivering nutritious, appetizing, and properly portioned meals to residents in accordance with physician-ordered diets, individualized dietary needs, established menus, and facility policies. This position supports residents' health, nutritional status, dignity, and overall quality of life by providing safe, sanitary, and timely food service.

The Dietary Cook/Dietary Aide works collaboratively with the Dietary Manager, nursing staff, and other facility personnel to ensure residents receive appropriate meals, snacks, and beverages according to their individual needs and preferences. The employee must follow applicable federal and state regulations, food safety standards, infection prevention practices, and long-term care facility policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Food Preparation and Cooking

• Prepare and cook meals according to approved menus, standardized recipes, and established portion sizes.
• Follow therapeutic diet orders, including texture-modified diets and other prescribed dietary restrictions, as assigned and within the employee's training.
• Prepare regular and special-diet meals according to resident diet cards, meal tickets, and current dietary instructions.
• Ensure meals are prepared and served at appropriate temperatures and in a timely manner.
• Assist with preparing snacks, desserts, beverages, and nourishments as directed.
• Maintain the quality, appearance, flavor, and nutritional value of food.
• Follow instructions regarding food substitutions, allergies, intolerances, and other documented dietary needs.
• Notify the Dietary Manager or appropriate nursing personnel of questions or discrepancies involving diet orders or resident food requirements.

Meal Service and Resident Care

• Assist with tray assembly, meal portioning, tray delivery, dining room service, and meal cleanup.
• Verify meal trays against current diet orders and meal tickets before service.
• Provide courteous, respectful, and compassionate service to residents.
• Assist residents with meal-related needs only as permitted by facility policy, training, and assigned responsibilities.
• Observe and promptly report concerns regarding poor food intake, swallowing difficulties, food refusal, or changes in eating habits to the appropriate nursing or dietary supervisor.
• Respect residents' cultural preferences, personal choices, privacy, and dignity.
• Ensure residents receive the correct food, beverages, and approved substitutions.

Sanitation and Food Safety

• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen, dining area, food preparation area, and storage spaces.
• Wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes, utensils, cookware, food preparation equipment, and work surfaces according to established procedures.
• Follow proper handwashing, personal hygiene, glove use, and infection prevention practices.
• Monitor and document food temperatures, refrigerator and freezer temperatures, and other required food safety checks.
• Store, label, date, rotate, and discard food according to facility procedures and applicable food safety requirements.
• Prevent cross-contamination and follow procedures for handling raw and ready-to-eat foods.
• Maintain appropriate chemical storage and safe use of cleaning products.
• Report equipment malfunctions, sanitation concerns, pest activity, and potential food safety hazards promptly.

Inventory and Kitchen Operations

• Assist with receiving, inspecting, and storing food and supply deliveries.
• Rotate inventory using the first-in, first-out method and monitor expiration dates.
• Notify the Dietary Manager when supplies are low, products are damaged, or food items are needed.
• Assist with meal counts, portion control, food waste reduction, and inventory documentation.
• Use kitchen equipment safely and report maintenance needs promptly.
• Follow established procedures for food preparation schedules, meal service, and kitchen closing duties.

Documentation and Regulatory Compliance

• Complete assigned temperature logs, cleaning schedules, meal counts, and other required records accurately.
• Follow facility policies, dietary procedures, emergency protocols, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident information in accordance with facility policies and applicable privacy laws.
• Participate in required staff meetings, in-service education, food safety training, and competency assessments.
• Cooperate with facility inspections, audits, and quality improvement activities as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned that are consistent with the position, qualifications, and facility needs.

Qualifications and Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience in food service, institutional cooking, healthcare, assisted living, or long-term care preferred.
• Knowledge of basic cooking methods, food preparation, sanitation, and safe food handling preferred.
• Ability to follow recipes, menus, written instructions, and diet-specific directions.
• Ability to read and understand meal tickets, diet cards, labels, and food safety instructions.
• Food handler training or certification as required by applicable state or local regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with residents, families, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Must demonstrate dependability, professionalism, attention to detail, and a commitment to resident-centered care.
• Must complete required facility orientation, training, and competency assessments.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical requirements may include:

• Standing and walking for extended periods.
• Frequently reaching, bending, stooping, and moving throughout the kitchen and dining areas.
• Lifting and carrying food supplies, trays, cookware, and other items within facility-defined safe lifting limits.
• Pushing food carts and transporting meals throughout the facility.
• Working around hot surfaces, ovens, stoves, sharp utensils, cleaning chemicals, and wet floors while following safety procedures.
• Performing repetitive tasks involving food preparation, dishwashing, and cleaning.

Work Environment

The position operates primarily in a commercial or institutional kitchen, food storage areas, dining rooms, and other designated food service locations within the long-term care facility. The employee may be exposed to hot and cold temperatures, kitchen equipment, cleaning chemicals, noise, and time-sensitive meal service requirements.

The position may require evening, weekend, holiday, or other scheduled shifts based on resident meal service needs and facility staffing requirements.

Performance Expectations

The Dietary Cook/Dietary Aide is expected to:

• Prepare and serve meals accurately, safely, and on schedule.
• Follow current resident diet orders and food texture requirements.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized work environment.
• Treat every resident with dignity, patience, and respect.
• Complete required documentation accurately and on time.
• Communicate concerns promptly to the Dietary Manager or appropriate supervisor.
• Demonstrate teamwork, reliability, accountability, and compliance with facility policies.