Cook - Full Time

Position Overview - Cook

The Cook is responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving nutritious, high-quality meals for patients, staff, and visitors in accordance with physician orders, therapeutic diet requirements, food safety regulations, and hospital standards. Working within a behavioral health environment, the Cook supports patient recovery and well-being by providing safe, appetizing meals while maintaining a clean, sanitary, and secure kitchen.

Key Areas of Responsibilities

• Open the kitchen and ensure organization of daily events.
• Comply with facility and departmental policies and procedures regarding food services offered.
• Follow menus and recipes as provided by the Food Service Director and Dietician.
• Prepare meals and beverages according to menu cycle and daily production sheet, providing attention to attractive and tasteful meals.
• Accurately prepare food for modified diets, consulting with Dietician or Food Service Director as required.
• Complete and prepare meals in a timely manner as prescribed by posted mealtimes.
• Follow posted cleaning schedule and always ensure a clean work area and dining room.
• Document refrigeration units and dish machine temperatures according to posted schedules.
• Adhere to standards for food temperatures during cooking, serving and storage of leftovers.
• Maintain walk-in cooler, freezer, and storerooms in an orderly fashion including properly date, rotate and label all food items.
• Adhere to appropriate portion control and avoid over production and or running out of food.
• Comply with established guidelines for sanitation and safety.
• Provide leadership to the other food service staff during shift teamwork.
• Interact with patients in the serving line, offering assistance in the selection of a nutritionally balanced meal.
• Support and encourage harmonious working relationships within the department, as well as with all employees in the facility.
• Report any equipment malfunction immediately to the Food Service Manager.
• Provide assistance with washing dishes and maintaining dish room in a clean and orderly fashion.
• Responsible for turning off all equipment, inspecting the kitchen for cleanliness and locking the department at the end of the day.
• Use of sense of urgency by managing your time to ensure all job responsibilities are completed.
• Prepare food and refreshments to properly have meals ready (snacks, lunch, beverages, etc.) for New Hire Orientation (NEO) classes, and other hospital related staff meeting.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Required: High school diploma or equivalency. Ability to read, write and follow written instruction and recipes. Experience in preparing food in bulk quantities preferred. Previous experience, preferably in a hospital, hotel or other institutional setting. Ability to work with others in a team environment.

Work Hours: Must be able to work a flexible schedule (breakfast, lunch or dinner shifts). Also must be able to work weekends on a rotating basis.