Dietary Assistant

Helia Healthcare•Olney, IL

12d

About The Position

The Dietary Assistant assists with preparing meals and snacks for residents in a nursing home facility, following facility guidelines and the daily menu. The role supports residents’ nutritional needs, including special and therapeutic diets, and helps ensure meals and snacks are served on schedule and in appropriate portions. It also maintains kitchen sanitation, food storage, dishwashing, and temperature-monitoring practices while protecting residents’ and staff members’ confidential information.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Food Services Sanitation certificate.
One year of job-related experience, including food preparation, full-line menu items, and therapeutic diets.
Ability to handle multiple priorities.
Written and verbal communication skills.
Organizational and time-management skills.
Good judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with residents, families, vendors, the community, and staff.
Ability to respond tactfully and effectively to public inquiries and complaints.
Ability to exercise sound judgment within established guidelines.
Successful background check and drug screen.

Responsibilities

Read, understand, and comply with state regulations for food service departments.
Assist with preparing balanced, healthy meals according to the daily menu and residents’ special-diet requests.
Plate food using standard measuring utensils to provide sufficient portions, and help ensure meals are served at posted times.
Provide additional servings as needed and prepare snacks according to the schedule and menu.
Clean equipment and work areas, including walls and floors, to maintain a sanitary kitchen.
Cover and date opened food in refrigerators and freezers and promptly discard outdated food.
Wash and sanitize dishes according to food-service standards; prepare the sanitation sink and monitor and document sanitizing-solution levels.
Operate the dishwashing process in an organized manner and keep dishes moving through the machine until clean and ready for the next meal.
Maintain refrigerators and freezers at appropriate temperatures and document temperatures.
Maintain a clean, neat appearance, wearing aprons, hair nets, and other protective clothing as necessary.
Collect and place garbage and trash in designated containers.
Maintain confidentiality of pertinent personal or health information concerning residents and staff.