Food Preparer, Part-time

Samaritan Healthcare•Moses Lake, WA

About The Position

The Food Preparer provides friendly, courteous food service to visitors and employees and assists with preparing food for patients and personnel. The role prepares cold foods and patient trays, helps with tray service, transports carts to and from patient areas, and performs catering, cleaning, stocking, and food storage tasks. The position requires maintaining sanitation and safe food-handling practices, operating kitchen equipment and payment systems, and making sound decisions in support of Nutrition Services. The Food Preparer works closely with other Nutrition Services staff to provide exceptional patient care. This is a part-time position working various days of the week between 6:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., including rotating weekends. The position reports to the Nutrition Services Director and works closely with other Nutrition Services staff.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current Washington State Food Handlers permit.
Ability to learn equipment operation and simple food preparation techniques.
Demonstrated competency with equipment listed on the department-specific checklist.
Critical-thinking skills, including seeking guidance when needed, independent problem-solving, logical decision-making, accountability, and safe judgment.
Ability to practice within legal and ethical guidelines.
Ability to care for customers and patients across the age continuum.
Ability to communicate verbally and/or in writing to exchange information accurately with healthcare professionals, patients, families, and the public.
Ability to lift or carry up to 25 pounds, stand and walk for prolonged periods, push or pull or move heavy equipment and supplies, and reach, kneel, bend, stoop, and crouch.

Nice To Haves

One year of food service experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare fruits, vegetables, salads, condiments, beverages, and desserts for patient trays in a timely and sanitary manner.
Use standardized recipes and avoid food waste as applicable.
Prepare food items for catering and set up catering functions.
Maintain minimal stock of sandwich materials and use proper sandwich-making techniques.
Portion cold foods for tray service and assist with tray assembly.
Clean equipment, worktables, ranges, utensils, pots, and pans using proper techniques and cleaning solutions, and follow posted cleaning schedules.
Operate the cash register, process credit card and payroll-deduct transactions, provide correct change, and balance the cash drawer after each meal period.
Tally patient counts by diet in a timely manner.
Maintain familiarity with the current Dietary Food Management system.
Set up, transport, and serve patient trays according to established schedules and procedures.
Maintain minimal stock levels in the doctor’s lounge.
Receive and properly store food and supplies and rotate stock.
Work closely with the Cook, Diet Assistant, and Registered Dietitian to provide exceptional patient care.
Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations.
Follow safe work practices and policies, including those related to security, safety, MSDS, equipment, infection control, fire, disasters, safe lifting, and body mechanics.
Comply with organization policies and procedures and labor agreements.
Interact courteously and efficiently with team members and support groups in keeping with organizational values.
Maintain professional conduct and appearance consistent with job requirements and organizational policy.
Handle additional management-assigned accountabilities as needed to meet organizational standards.