Dining Assistant

the South Dakota State Government•Hot Springs, SD

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Dining Assistant works at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice South Dakota Veterans Home in Hot Springs, assisting Veterans with eating and drinking during mealtimes. Dining Assistants supplement, but do not replace, CNAs or nursing staff. They may not feed residents with complicated feeding problems or clinical conditions that require nursing training. The Dining Assistant Program includes 8 hours of online curriculum and 2 hours of clinical training supervised by a Registered Nurse. Its goal is to help residents eat and drink, reducing unplanned weight loss and dehydration. Flexible working hours are available. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and must possess or be able to obtain ServeSafe certification and successfully complete dining assistant certification. Successful applicants must complete a background investigation, abuse and neglect screening, and drug screening. Employment is conditional on successfully completing the drug screening. The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas; hires must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete Form I-9. The state uses E-Verify. Applicants may submit a National Career Readiness Certificate with their application, but it is not required for consideration. Applications must be submitted online; emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted. This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Requirements

Be at least 16 years of age.
Possess or be able to obtain ServeSafe certification.
Successfully complete dining assistant certification.
Know the legal and ethical implications of the dining process, resident rights, infection prevention practices, how to recognize changes in residents' normal behavior, safety and emergency procedures, and feeding techniques.
Be able to assist residents with eating and drinking during mealtimes and document meal intake in an electronic medical record.
Be able to provide assistance safely and with dignity, interact with residents and interdisciplinary team members, and provide a pleasant dining experience.
Successfully complete a background investigation, abuse and neglect screening, and drug screening.
Verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete Form I-9.

Nice To Haves

A National Career Readiness Certificate may be submitted with the application, but is not required.

Responsibilities

Assist residents with eating and drinking during mealtimes.
Document meal intake in the electronic medical record.
Provide assistance safely and with dignity.
Interact with residents and members of the interdisciplinary team.
Help provide a pleasant dining experience.
Recognize changes in residents that are inconsistent with their normal behavior.
Follow infection prevention practices and safety and emergency procedures.
Do not feed residents with complicated feeding problems or clinical conditions requiring nursing training.