Dietary Aide - PACE

Neighborhood Healthcare; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Neighborhood Healthcare is seeking a Dietary Aide to support dining services for the PACE program in Riverside, CA. This onsite role assists with meal service, sanitation, and patient-friendly dining experiences for seniors.

The position runs Monday–Friday, 6:30am–3pm for about 3 months, with duties spanning kitchen support and dining room care. Must have a high school diploma, Riverside County Food Handler Certification, and BLS; CPR/First Aid are also required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Riverside County Food Handler Certification required.
• Current BLS certification required; CPR and First Aid certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Set up and sanitize dining room before meal service.
• Wash dishes and kitchen equipment per sanitation standards.
• Deliver meals and assist participants during service.
• Maintain diet accuracy and provide patient-friendly service.
• Complete sanitation logs and infection control tasks.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal communication

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Food safety knowledge

Teamwork

Patience with elderly

Confidentiality

Education

High school diploma/GED

Riverside County Food Handler Certification

Current BLS certification

CPR certification

First Aid certification

Tools

None

Job description

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision. A community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

Neighborhood Healthcare PACE is a managed medical plan built around surrounding participants with a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and care coordinators to help them maintain good health and a good quality of life. Our goal is to keep our seniors happy and healthy at home surrounded by their family and community.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 500k medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 100,000 people annually. With two PACE centers located in Riverside County, our PACE program is positioned to serve over 650 senior participants.

ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE

The Dietary Aide is responsible for supporting both kitchen operations and dining services within the PACE program. This role ensures a clean, safe, and organized environment while assisting with meal service, dishwashing, and general kitchen support. The Dietary Aide plays a key role in enhancing the participant dining experience by providing excellent customer service, maintaining sanitation standards, and collaborating with the dietary team to ensure meals are delivered accurately and efficiently in accordance with prescribed diets.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:30am-3pm. This position is fully onsite. This is a temporary role, expected to last about 3 months.

Responsibilities

• Set up and clean the dining room for meal service, including wiping and sanitizing tables, sweeping floors, and sanitizing beverage stations
• Wash dishes, pots, pans, and kitchen equipment according to sanitation standards
• Clean and maintain kitchen, dish room, and dining areas, including floors, counters, and trash removal
• Wash cloth napkins and set tables with fresh napkins and silverware
• Take participant meal orders and deliver meals directly to tables, ensuring accuracy and adherence to prescribed diets
• Pour beverages and assist participants as needed during meal service
• Serve as a primary or secondary server during meal periods, including delivering trays and assisting participants
• Pass special diet and texture-modified plates to appropriate participants while maintaining awareness of therapeutic diet requirements
• Support kitchen staff with daily tasks, including preparing small ready-to-eat food items as needed
• Restock dining room, kitchen supplies, break rooms, and other service areas throughout the day
• Collect and respond to participant feedback during meal service, handling concerns with professionalism, creativity, and a positive attitude
• Collaborate effectively with dietary and kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations and participant satisfaction
• Complete required logs, including sanitizer logs, cleaning documentation, and other operational records
• Maintain compliance with food safety, sanitation, and infection control protocols
• Demonstrate patience, compassion, and excellent interpersonal skills when interacting with participants, including navigating challenging situations
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and organizational goals

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• High school diploma/GED required.
• Riverside County Food Handler Certification required
• 1 year of experience in food service preferred; prior experience in healthcare, restaurant, or high-volume food service preferred
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines, but may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards
  • In addition, current CPR and First Aid certification are required for all PACE employees in accordance with CMS and DHCS requirements. First Aid training will be provided at onboarding and must be renewed annually.

Additional Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Exceptional customer service skills, with the ability to positively influence participant experiences
• Ability to multitask, manage time effectively, and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Attention to detail and accuracy in meal service, cleaning, and sanitation tasks
• Basic knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and proper dishwashing procedures
• Ability to work collaboratively with kitchen and dietary staff as part of a team
• Flexibility to perform a variety of tasks across kitchen and dining service areas based on operational needs
• Patience, compassion, and enjoyment in working with elderly participants
• Ability to handle confidential information professionally and ethically

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and push carts for the duration of a 7–8 hour shift
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs/weight
• Fast-paced dining and kitchen environment supporting multiple meal services
• Exposure to hot and cold environments, cleaning chemicals, dishwashing operations, and noise typical of a kitchen and dining setting

COMPLIANCE (Safety & HIPAA)

• Follows all safety procedures as outlined in Neighborhood Healthcare’s Illness and Injury Prevention Plan (IIPP) and report any injuries and/or unsafe conditions immediately
• Maintains current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practices
• Follows all safety procedures and report unsafe conditions
• Uses appropriate body mechanics to ensure an injury free environment
• Familiarity with location of nearest fire extinguisher and emergency exits
• Follows all infection control procedures including blood-borne pathogen protocols
• Maintains privacy of all patients, employee and volunteer information and access such information only on a need-to-know basis for business purposes
• Complies with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligations
• Reports all behavior and/or activity that are unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful

Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.

Pay range: $22.00 to $29.41 per hour, depending on experience.

Education

Required

High School or better.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Basic Life Support

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.