Food Services Worker - Women's Shelter

YWCA Toronto•Toronto, ON

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Food Services Worker works within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team and is responsible for the planning and preparation of nutritionally balanced meals for program participants and their children. Along with their duties they acts as a resource to staff and clients for the planning and preparation of nutritionally balanced and culturally appropriate meals for program participants and their children. The Women’s Shelter in East York is a 25-bed emergency shelter supporting women and gender-diverse people, with or without dependents, who are fleeing violence. The program includes a Transitional Housing and Support Program that offers up to two years of post-shelter support to promote safety, stability, and long-term housing outcomes. Women’s shelters operate 24/7 and are grounded in feminist principles, trauma-informed and strengths-based care, harm reduction, anti-oppressive practice, transparency, and a spirit of inclusion. In addition to shelter accommodation, all programs provide nutritious and culturally diverse food, access to health care, crisis intervention, supportive counselling, individualized service planning, clinical and recreational programming, as well as opportunities to engage in advocacy.

Requirements

A generalized education at the college level, including e.g. training/certificate in public health standards and general nutrition.
Food Handlers Certificate required.
3-5 years directly related work experience
Experience preparing culturally diverse meals for a multicultural environment
Experience teaching nutrition and working with women in crisis
Communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
Computer literacy required
Minimum travel will be required at times
Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a busy environment

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of a second language and/or culture would be an asset

Responsibilities

Meets with program participants at the intake phase to introduce and clarify her role, obtain information about their dietary/cultural food needs as well as any health pertinent information such as food allergies
Supports participants to set goals related to food related needs
Facilitates house meetings and workshops related to food, nutrition and cooking on limited budgets and monthly shelter menu
Prepares a weekend evening meal plan
Ensures that staple food items are stocked and available to program participants, including culturally diverse foods
Ensures that the kitchen is managed in accordance with current Health and Safety standards ie Toronto Public Health and YWCA Toronto
Maintains grocery supplies by ordering food electronically and over the telephone for delivery including, cleaning supplies and paper products within allocated budget or shopping
Ensures that all areas are cleaned during and after meal preparation
Washes dishes, pots, pans and other equipment used to prepare the lunch and dinner meals Monday to Friday
Monitor for pests in collaboration with property services