DIETARY ASSISTANT

Helia Healthcare; Olney (IL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Helia Healthcare in Olney, IL seeks a Culinary Assistant to help prepare meals and snacks for residents in a licensed nursing home. The role requires following daily menus and dietary guidelines while maintaining sanitary kitchen practices on a day-to-day basis.

You will assist with portion control, meal timing, and diet-specific requests, ensuring residents receive nutritious meals. The job emphasizes respect, confidentiality, and adherence to state regulations, with equal opportunity

Qualifications

• Must have a Food Services Sanitation certificate.
• At least 1 year related experience including food preparation and diet knowledge.
• Ability to multitask and communicate effectively, with good judgment and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation of meals and snacks for residents in a nursing home setting.
• Follow state regulations for food service and dietary guidelines.
• Assist with plating and portioning according to menus and special diets.
• Ensure meals are served on time and residents receive adequate portions.
• Maintain sanitary kitchen environment and proper food handling procedures.
• Wash dishes and clean equipment; manage dishwashing workflow.
• Label and date open foods and discard outdated items promptly.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident and staff information.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Time management

Organization

Decision making

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description

**Experience pays off—literally. Tell us about your background and maximize your earning potential**

The overall purpose of the Culinary Assistant position is to assist with the preparation of meals and snacks for residents within guidelines of the facility.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs duties and responsibilities with assigned functional area within a nursing home facility which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following tasks:

• Reads, understands, and complies with State Regulations established for Food Service departments.
• Assist in preparation of well-balanced and healthy food according to the menu for the day, so that residents will receive the meals they are expecting.
• Assist in following all requests for special diets in order to ensure good resident health.
• Assist in placing food servings on plates using standard measuring ladles, scoops, spoons, etc. ensuring residents receive sufficient portions.
• Assist in making sure meals are served on time according to the established and posted mealtimes for the community, every time.
• Provide residents “seconds” as needed to satiate their appetites.
• Assist in preparing snacks for residents according to snack schedule and menu to ensure residents are getting adequate nutrition and hydration.
• Properly clean all equipment and work areas, including walls and floors, to provide a sanitary kitchen environment.
• Assure all open food in refrigerators and freezers are covered and dated and that outdated food is discarded promptly.
• Wash and sanitize dishes according to foodservice standards.
• Prepare sanitation sink according to directions and monitors and documents sanitizing solution levels.
• Operate the dishwashing process in an organized fashion.
• After food is served, keep dirty dishes running through the dish machine until all dishes are clean and ready for the next meal.
• Assures all freezers and refrigerators are maintained at appropriate temperatures and the temperatures are documented.
• Present a clean and neat appearance which includes but is not limited to wearing aprons, hair nets, and other protective clothing as necessary.
• Collect and place garbage and trash in designated containers.
• Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent personal or health information concerning residents and staff.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• To be qualified for this position you must maintain a current Food Services Sanitation certificate and have one (1) year job related experience including food preparation, full-line menu items and therapeutic diets.
• To be successful you will need to have the ability to handle multiple priorities, possess written and verbal skills for effective communication be competent in organizational, time management skills and demonstrate good judgment, problem solving and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with residents, their families, vendors, community, and staff,
• Ability to respond to public inquiries and complaints in a tactful, effective manner.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment within established guidelines.

The Fine Print (Still Important!):

Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check and drug screen. We want to keep our residents safe, happy, and in good hands—you’re part of that promise.

Helia Healthcare, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We’re committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better we can serve our community.