Dietary Cook

Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation•Morgan City, LA

About The Position

The Dietary Cook prepares and serves high-quality meals and snacks to residents while meeting applicable governing agency regulations. The role plans meals according to the menu under the direction of the Dietary Manager, maintains food quality and nutritional value, accommodates resident meal substitutions, and helps ensure the kitchen and food-service areas are clean, sanitary, safe, and orderly. The Dietary Cook oversees meal and snack preparation, special event food items, food-cart sanitation, dish processing, and the work of dietary aides and dishwashers. The position also supports supply management, food storage and labeling, temperature records, tray preparation, and training of dietary personnel as needed. The cook follows facility and company policies, maintains confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, communicates professionally with residents, families, coworkers, and vendors, and may work beyond normal hours for special events or temporarily cover other dietary positions when necessary.

Requirements

Cooking experience required.
Freedom from illegal use of drugs.
Freedom from the use and effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
Must not have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating individuals in a health-care-related setting.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma preferred.
Experience in a long-term care setting preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Prepare quality and appetizing meals and snacks for residents.
Plan meals according to the menu under the Dietary Manager’s direction, with assistance from dietary aides and/or dishwashers.
Supervise dietary aides and dishwashers to keep them on task and maintain an orderly, clean kitchen.
Follow recipes to preserve nutritional value and avoid waste.
Provide meal substitutions requested by residents.
Maintain the kitchen in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations and standards.
Label and store food appropriately after opening or use.
Clean and maintain the sanitation of equipment, utensils, work areas, storage areas, and serving areas after use.
Oversee preparation of meals, snacks, and special-event food items.
Prepare special nourishments or supplements as instructed by the Dietary Manager, labeling them with residents’ names and room numbers when needed.
Help establish and maintain supplies and notify the supervisor of shortages or discrepancies.
Record temperatures of food, refrigerators, freezers, and beverage dispensers as instructed.
Assist in training other dietary personnel as needed.
Oversee sanitation of food carts after meal service.
Oversee timely processing of dirty dishes in preparation for the next meal service.
Assist with unpacking, dating, and rotating food and supplies as needed.
Maintain tray cards and prepare meal trays according to them.
Identify and correct safety hazards.
Ensure staff entering the kitchen are clean and well-groomed in accordance with regulations and the facility dress code, including requirements such as hairnets, aprons, and non-slip shoes.
Work beyond normal working hours for special events and temporarily in other dietary positions when necessary.
Represent the facility professionally and positively in the community.
Communicate professionally and courteously with residents, families, coworkers, and vendors using effective verbal and non-verbal communication.
Maintain confidentiality of department, resident, and employee information, communications, and documentation, and comply with HIPAA regulations.
Clock in and out for all working and training hours; off-the-clock work is not permitted.
Comply with Legacy’s Compliance program and plan, Code of Conduct, and Dress Code.