Dietary & Food Services Aide I - PD

Tufts Medicine•Lowell, MA

1d•$17 - $19

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Dietary & Food Services Aide I 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, kitchen cleanliness, and sanitation. It prepares and serves meals based on general or special diets and helps maintain kitchens, cafeterias, counters, and patient tray operations in accordance with organizational quality standards and regulatory requirements. The position is entry level, follows routine procedures, and is performed under supervision.

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 most of the workday, 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 phone orders from patients and instructions from supervisors.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Maintain and communicate accurate, current diet-order information in the system so patients receive appropriate meals, nourishments, and commercial enteral products.
Ask patients about food preferences, intolerances, likes, and dislikes, and alert the Clinical Dietitian to actual or potential nutritional problems.
Assist patients with menu selection; write and correct regular and assigned modified diets; and maintain accurate, appropriate patient trays.
Deliver trays to patients and pick up trays after meals.
Follow patient-unit precautions, including appropriate use of PPE and hand hygiene standards.
Stock nursing-unit pantries with nourishments and dietary supplies using the first-in, first-out system.
Ensure accurate tray assembly 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, applying knowledge of 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, and work stations; sanitize and stack patient trays and utensils; reassemble the tray line; and clean pots, utensils, equipment, floors, walls, and the dish machine.
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 support 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 payments, make change, and issue receipts or tickets.