Dietary and Food Service Aide, Full Time

Tufts Medicine•Lowell, MA

4d•$17 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Dietary and Food Service Aide works in locations where food is prepared, including retail, patient, and catering operations. The role supports all aspects of food service, including menu selection, food preparation and delivery, and kitchen cleanliness and sanitation. It prepares and serves meals for general and special diets and helps maintain kitchens, cafeterias, counters, and patient food service operations in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards. The position is an entry-level, closely supervised support role involving routine work, typically following established procedures. This full-time position is based at Lowell General Hospital, 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, Massachusetts. The schedule is 40 hours per week, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with rotating weekends and holidays required. The pay range is $17.00–$19.09, based on full-time equivalent.

Requirements

Food service experience.
Ability to read, write, and understand written instructions.
Interpersonal skills to interact with patients, the patient care team, and employees.
Familiarity with therapeutic diets.
Knowledge of sterile food-handling techniques.
Ability to operate simple mechanical devices such as a coffee urn, dish machine, slicer, and trash compactor.
Ability to use a knife for slicing, cutting, and dicing.
Ability to stand and walk for 95% of the day, strain and lift approximately 30 pounds, and push loaded carts weighing approximately 400 pounds.
Manual dexterity to handle money, operate a cash register, and prepare food.
Ability to hear phoned patient orders and supervisors’ instructions.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of experience in hospital food services.

Responsibilities

Maintain and communicate accurate, up-to-date diet order information through the system so patients receive meals, nourishments, and commercial enteral products appropriate to their current diet orders.
Ask patients about food preferences, intolerances, likes, and dislikes, and alert the Clinical Dietitian to actual or potential nutritional problems.
Help patients select menu items; write and correct regular and assigned modified diets; and maintain accuracy and appropriateness of patient trays.
Deliver trays to patients and collect trays from patients.
Follow patient-unit precautions, including proper use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene standards.
Stock nursing-unit pantries with nourishments and dietary supplies using a first-in, first-out system.
Assemble patient trays accurately and prepare menu items such as salads, sandwiches, desserts, and special items.
Use kitchen utensils to weigh, measure, mix, wash, peel, cut, grind, stir, strain, season, and knead food for cooking, serving, and storage.
Assist with hot and cold food preparation and store food properly, observing temperature requirements and spoilage.
Maintain sanitation and temperature logs according to regulatory requirements.
Set up, stock, serve, and deliver food from counters, steam tables, and work stations.
Clean and sanitize dishware, equipment, work stations, pots, utensils, floors, walls, and dish machines; process patient trays and utensils in the dish room and reassemble the tray line.
Remove trash from assigned work areas or the kitchen, return empty bottles and cans to the recycling bin, and move crushed cardboard to designated areas.
Maintain collaborative working relationships with peers and colleagues to contribute to team goals and a positive work environment.
May prepare special nutritional products, including infant formulas, modular tube feedings, or powdered nutritionals for high-risk adult patients.
May operate a cash register or equivalent, accept cash, check, or charge payments, make change, and issue receipts or tickets.