BHA/Kitchen Support Specialist

Northeast Treatment Centers; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 32,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeast Treatment Centers in Wilmington, Delaware, is seeking a dependable BHA/Kitchen Support Specialist to manage daily kitchen operations and support Behavioral Health Associates in a residential setting.

Responsibilities include preparing meals, following dietary guidelines, maintaining sanitation, and balancing kitchen duties with client-support tasks under supervision. Prior food service and health-safety knowledge is preferred; training provided.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required or preferred.
• Experience in food service or institutional settings preferred.
• Experience in behavioral health settings preferred.
• Food-handler or ServSafe certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Strong communication and boundaries with clients.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve daily meals and snacks per schedule.
• Follow approved menus, portion guidelines, and dietary requirements.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary kitchen and proper food storage.
• Assist with inventory, ordering, and meal planning.
• Provide BHA support to clients as needed while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Complete required documentation and shift reports.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Procedural adherence

Team collaboration

Dependable

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Summary Of Position

The BHA/Kitchen Support Specialist is primarily responsible for the daily operation, cleanliness, organization, and food service needs of the facility kitchen. This position prepares and serves meals and snacks for clients, maintains food safety and sanitation standards, assists with inventory and meal planning, accommodates approved special dietary needs, and ensures the kitchen remains clean, organized, and compliant with facility requirements.

As a member of the residential team, the BHA/Kitchen Support Specialist will also provide Behavioral Health Associate (BHA) support to clients as needed. This includes maintaining a safe and supportive environment, assisting with daily client needs, monitoring client activity, and supporting the overall operations of the residential program.

The ideal candidate is dependable, organized, compassionate, and comfortable working with individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment. The candidate must be able to balance primary kitchen responsibilities with BHA and client-support duties when needed.

Essential Responsibilities

Kitchen & Food Service – Primary Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve daily meals and snacks according to the facility's established meal schedule.
• Follow approved menus, portion guidelines, and dietary requirements.
• Accommodate approved special dietary needs of clients, including food allergies, dietary restrictions, medical diets, and cultural or religious dietary preferences, as communicated by the appropriate clinical or administrative staff.
• Ensure meals are prepared and served according to documented dietary requirements and that appropriate substitutions are provided when needed.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen at all times.
• Follow all applicable food safety, sanitation, and infection-control procedures.
• Properly store, label, date, and rotate food and supplies.
• Monitor refrigerator, freezer, and food storage areas.
• Check food products for expiration dates, quality, and proper storage.
• Maintain appropriate kitchen inventory and notify leadership when supplies need to be reordered.
• Assist with meal planning and communicate supply needs to leadership.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment, counters, appliances, dishes, and food preparation areas.
• Properly dispose of trash and maintain appropriate waste-management procedures.
• Ensure kitchen equipment is used safely and report damaged or malfunctioning equipment.
• Maintain kitchen documentation and logs as required.
• Assist with receiving and putting away food and supply deliveries.
• Ensure clients are provided meals in a timely and respectful manner.
• Maintain professional boundaries and appropriate interactions with clients while performing kitchen duties

When Assigned BHA Duties, The Employee Will

• Maintain a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for clients.
• Monitor client activity and report safety concerns or behavioral changes to nursing or supervisory staff.
• Assist with maintaining appropriate client supervision according to program requirements.
• Support clients with daily living activities and program routines as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with nursing, clinical, and administrative staff.
• Assist with maintaining a clean and safe residential environment.
• Follow facility policies, procedures, and client confidentiality requirements.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies and follow established emergency procedures.
• Complete required documentation and shift reports.
• Maintain professional boundaries with all clients.
• Report incidents, safety concerns, contraband, or other significant observations to the appropriate staff member.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous food service, kitchen, dietary, hospitality, or institutional food-service experience preferred.
• Previous experience working in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, residential treatment, healthcare, or a similar setting preferred.
• Food-handler certification or ServSafe certification preferred or willingness to obtain as required.
• Ability to follow food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to understand and follow documented dietary restrictions and special dietary requirements.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Must be dependable, punctual, and able to maintain a consistent work schedule.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry food, kitchen supplies, and other items as required.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and perform routine kitchen-cleaning duties.
• Ability to safely operate standard kitchen equipment.
• Ability to respond quickly to client and facility needs.

NET is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)

About Us

The Northeast Treatment Center founded in 1970 is one of the largest behavioral health and social service agencies is in the Philadelphia Region. Services are offered at 15 sites throughout Greater Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley and the state of Delaware.

NET Centers (NET) offers support and hope to individuals and families at times of great stress in their lives. A nonprofit agency, NET provides a continuum of trauma informed behavioral health and social services designed to meet complex needs of all family members. These include mental health, addiction treatment, foster care, residential group care, adoption, juvenile justice services and child welfare services. While some services address the needs of the family as a whole and some target individuals, we always strive to foster positive connections within the family to help all family members heal, recover and rebuild