DIETARY AIDE

KALESTA HEALTHCARE GROUP; Puyallup (WA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

KALESTA HEALTHCARE GROUP in Puyallup, WA is seeking an Experienced Dietary Aide to assist the Cook in meal preparation and service for residents. The role requires attention to dietary needs, texture modifications, and safe food handling in a skilled care environment.

You will report to the Dietary Services Supervisor, maintain infection control, and support nutrition services during meals, nourishment times, and social dining.

Qualifications

• Education: High School graduate or equivalent preferred.
• Language Skills: Must read, speak and understand English clearly.
• Experience: Experience in kitchen operations in large facilities preferred.
• Communication: Exceptional communication and customer service skills required.

Responsibilities

• Set up trays with dishes, glasses, and utensils for meals.
• Prepare hot and cold foods following recipes for regular and modified diets.
• Serve meals, check allergies and diet instructions, ensure correct portions and textures.
• Prepare nourishments as needed.
• Clean utensils and prep areas after use according to schedule.
• Practice infection control and safety policies.

Skills

English proficiency

Communication skills

Dependability

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Level: Experienced
Job Location: Puyallup, WA 98372
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $20.00 - $20.00 Hourly
Job Category: Health Care

Position

The Dietary Aide is to assist the Cook in the preparation and service of meals.

Reporting

This position reports to the Dietary Services Supervisor.

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt.

Essential Job Functions

• Set-up trays with proper dishes, glasses, cups and eating utensils for meals to be served, including correct assistive feeding devices as indicated on the tray card.
• Prepare hot and cold foods and beverages for residents’ meals as assigned by the Cook or Dietary Services Supervisor, following recipes and posted menus, for both regular, modified and therapeutic diets.
• Serve food for meal delivery: read tray card, check carefully for allergies, food likes/dislikes, specific instructions; place on tray; correct type and amount of beverages; correct type of food and texture as ordered; correct portion control; add correct condiments (salt, pepper, sugar, butter, etc.); special requested items; recheck items on tray with tray card to ensure resident receives correct diet; assist with social dining/meal service if required.
• Prepare nourishments.
• Clean food preparation utensils, dishes, and preparation areas after use; follow posted cleaning schedule utilizing proper procedures.
• Practice infection control policies and procedures of the department and facility.
• Practice safety policies and procedures of the department and facility.
• React appropriately to emergencies and disaster situations.
• Be courteous, considerate and cooperative when communicating with all facility personnel, residents and public.
• Attend in-service education and staff meetings as required.

Job Functions

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions.
• Appreciate the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information.
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property.
• Must be neat and clean and well groomed appearance.
• Ability to read, speak and understand English, follow directions and complete tasks assigned.
• Ability to follow time schedules for meal preparation and serving.
• Dependability.
• Other duties as assigned by the Cook and/or Dietary Services Supervisor.

Physical Capacities

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility—including an annual TB screening and physical examination.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Continuous bending, squatting, twisting and reaching.
• Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Environmental Conditions

Primarily inside work, normal to above-normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

Qualifications

• Education: High School graduate or equivalent preferred.
• License: None required.
• Work Experience: Experience in working in a kitchen of communities or institutions that provide meals to large groups of people on a daily basis is preferred.
• Language Skills: Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.
• Mathematical Skills: Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.
• Communication Skills: Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic. Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.