Dietary Cook & Aide PRN

NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals; Clear Lake (IA); On-site; USD 19,286 - 27,552; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Employee EAP programs

Generous PTO

Tuition offers through Capella

Work-life balance

Employee discounts

Job summary

NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals seeks a PRN Dietary Services Cook & Aide for the Medical Behavioral Hospital of Clear Lake location. You will prepare nourishing meals, assist with tray line functions, and maintain sanitation in a patient-focused dietary department.

The role involves supporting supervisors, managing inventory, and ensuring safety standards per health guidelines. Prior healthcare food service experience and ServSafe certification are valued, with flexible scheduling offered.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred with coursework in nutrition or food service management.
• ServSafe certification required or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in institutional food service or healthcare food service is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist supervisor in training and supervising personnel and food preparation as directed.
• Estimate food requirements to minimize waste and properly store leftovers.
• Prepare and portion simple food items for patient meals according to guidelines.
• Maintain a clean work area and ensure proper sanitation throughout shifts.
• Deliver meals, assist with tray lines, and ensure timely service to floors.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Lead and train staff

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Nutrition or food service management coursework

ServSafe certification

Job description

Healing Body and Mind.

NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals is a national leader in behavioral healthcare, specializing in patients with acute psychiatric and complex medical needs. Our hospitals use an interdisciplinary, multi-specialty approach that delivers high-quality, patient-centered care when it’s needed most.

With locations in Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Arizona, we’re expanding access to our unique model of care across the United States. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of patients and families every day.

Overview

NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals is looking for a PRN Dietary Services Cook & Aide at our Medical Behavioral Hospital of Clear Lake location. NPH is the national leader in providing medical and neurobehavioral care to patients in acute psychiatric distress. You will be joining a team of rock star staff who provide exceptional, patient-centered care and understand our patients are always our number one priority! The Dietary Services Cook/Aide communicates with residents, dietary personnel and other personnel as well as family members, visitors and the general public. Prepares nourishing and healthy meals for all residents and staff. Performs tray line functions including obtaining supplies, serving, portioning food, washing dishes, following Indiana State Boards of Health sanitation guidelines, and operating equipment in kitchen as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive pay rates
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• NPH 401(k) plan with up to 4% Company match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Programs
• Generous PTO and Time Off Policy
• Special tuition offers through Capella University
• Work/life balance with great professional growth opportunities
• Employee Discounts through LifeMart

Responsibilities

• Assists supervisor in training and supervising personnel and food preparation as directed. Helps supervisor maintain accurate inventory for completion of general dietary services duties.
• Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing assigned tasks.
• Estimates food requirements to eliminate waste and leftovers. Properly stores and utilizes left over food.
• Completes visual, taste and smell tests to assure palatability, safety and freshness of food items served.
• Maintains a clean working area during food production.
• Assures late trays are properly processed and that between meal feedings are prepared and delivered, as applicable, to floors.
• Holds and stores perishable food items in compliance with applicable standards of the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH).
• Perform sanitation inspections throughout scheduled shift and as provided in the sanitation checklist.
• Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
• Shares responsibility for maintaining a clean and safe environment.
• Review resident diet changes daily to determine if changes in the resident’s daily care routine have been made.
• Assists in the training of new dietary service workers.
• Ascertains that temperature sheets and cleaning schedules are dated and signed in a timely manner as required during their working time.
• Obtains supplies from storage areas (storeroom, walk-ins, etc) needed for completion of duties.
• Prepares and portions simple food items for patient meal service based on forecasted guidelines.
• Serves food on the patient tray line based on customer requests or the patient menu.
• Is responsible for retrieving the patient tray cart from designated area or unit(s) if needed.
• Is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the patient tray cart.
• Clears trays and washes dishes according to established guidelines.
• Cleans and sanitizes dishwashing area.
• Puts away dishes, glasses, cups, and silverware.
• Maintains patient tray line station stocked with food.
• Prepares and delivers patient nourishments and unit snacks as ordered.
• Reports to work as scheduled and in a timely manner. Alerts appropriate personnel to staffing needs.
• Floats to other departments / facilities as directed.
• Maintains a professional approach with confidentiality. Assures protection and privacy of health information as attained through written, electronic or oral disclosures.
• Displays concern and initiative. Is resourceful and calm in emergencies.
• Is prompt and efficient with minimal absences.
• Cooperates and maintains good rapport with nursing staff, medical staff, other departments, and visitors.
• Seeks guidance and remains knowledgeable of, and complies with, all applicable federal and state laws, as well as hospital polices that apply to assigned duties.
• Complies with hospital expectations regarding ethical behavior and standards of conduct.
• Complies with federal and hospital requirements in the areas of protected health information and patient privacy.
• Understands and adheres to NPH’s compliance standards as they appear in NPH’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and hospital regulations, laws and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• All other duties assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED preferred. Coursework in nutrition or food service management preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in institutional food service or family dining restaurants preferred. Experience in healthcare food service is a plus.
• Certification: ServSafe certification required or the ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Knowledge of elementary mathematics. Use of tools and equipment is necessary in running a dietary services department.
• Must be able to work harmoniously with other personnel and lead. Must have excellent writing, documentation, and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented.