Dietary Aide

Shady Lawn•Vicksburg, MS

21d

About The Position

The Dietary Aide assists with dietary functions as directed, supporting meal preparation and service for residents. The role follows facility procedures and recommendations from the dietary manager and dietitian, prepares and serves food, performs cleaning and dishwashing, maintains food and supply areas, and helps ensure meals and equipment are ready when needed. The position works with residents, families, visitors, facility staff, and support departments to meet residents’ needs. It requires maintaining sanitation and safety, observing infection-control procedures, protecting resident confidentiality, and reporting hazards, incidents, and complaints. The Dietary Aide works in food preparation and other dietary service areas, may encounter temperature changes, interruptions, hazardous materials, and emotionally upset or hostile individuals, and may work beyond normal hours, weekends, or holidays when necessary.

Requirements

At least a tenth-grade education.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English and follow oral and written instructions.
Professional appearance and attitude.
Ability to solve problems and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant.
Genuine care for and understanding of elderly and disabled people.
Ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agency personnel, and the public.
Ability and willingness to work harmoniously with others; patience, tact, a positive disposition, enthusiasm, and willingness to handle difficult people.
Ability to maintain supplies, equipment, and work areas and inspect food service areas for sanitation, order, safety, and proper performance of duties.
Willingness to seek out and incorporate new methods and principles into dietary practices.
Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace.
Ability to move intermittently, cope with job-related mental and emotional stress, and see and hear adequately or use prosthetics that enable these senses to function.
Ability to function independently and work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
Must meet facility health requirements, including a medical and physical examination.
Ability to work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and sometimes hostile people.
Ability to lift, push, pull, move, or carry at least five pounds to a height of three feet and a distance of five feet.
Ability to assist with resident evacuation during emergencies.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED.
Some food service experience.

Responsibilities

Work with the dietary manager and dietitian and implement recommendations.
Follow facility dietary procedures and policies.
Prepare appetizing meals and assist with meal preparation, including special meals and snacks.
Serve meals and food according to portion-control procedures and assist with timely meal service.
Set up meal trays, food carts, and dining areas; check diet trays; deliver food carts and trays; and distribute and collect menus.
Obtain food supplies for upcoming meals and help keep food equipment and supplies available.
Perform cleaning, dishwashing, and sanitation duties, including cleaning work surfaces and equipment, sweeping and mopping, handling dishes and utensils, and removing garbage and food waste.
Maintain clean, orderly, and safe food storage and work areas; assist with receiving, inventorying, and storing food and supplies.
Follow safety, infection-control, universal-precautions, and food-sanitation procedures; use protective clothing and equipment when required.
Report hazardous conditions, equipment issues, accidents, incidents, missing or unreadable MSDSs, and resident complaints to the appropriate supervisor or manager.
Maintain positive working relationships and a calm, welcoming atmosphere in the department.
Maintain confidentiality of resident care information and observe resident-rights procedures, including knocking before entering a resident’s room.
Participate in departmental projects, in-service programs, and on-the-job training.
Work beyond normal hours, in other positions temporarily, on weekends or holidays, and respond to callbacks during emergencies when necessary.
Assist in evacuating residents during emergencies.