Lead Nutrition Care Associate (FT, Days and Evenings) - Cherry Hill

Thomas Jefferson University • Cherry Hill, NJ

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Supervisor of Food Service, Food Service Manager, or Food Service Director, the Lead Nutrition Care Associate is responsible for processing patient information including diet orders, diet changes, and special dietary requests. This role acts as a lead worker directing the activities of Nutrition Care Associates, ensuring the timely and correct delivery of patient trays. The position involves interacting with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson. It also includes performing clerical functions such as answering the phone, typing, filing, word processing, and copying for support service departments as required. The Lead Nutrition Care Associate visits patients to monitor satisfaction, explain menu selections, and discuss food preferences. They maintain Nutrition Office records, including patient census and meal counts, and check patient trays for accuracy, cleanliness, appearance, and compliance with menu choices or tray cards. Communication with supervisors, Registered Dietitians, and other associates regarding patient preferences, diet education, poor intake, allergies, and special requests is crucial to ensure consistent, appropriate, safe, and appealing meals. The role also involves answering phones, dispatching personnel, and handling service requests via computer. Correcting patient menus to meet prescribed diet requirements and making necessary modifications are part of the duties. Handling food according to sanitary and safety guidelines, following food service handling methods, and generating production sheets are also key responsibilities. Maintaining late add tally lists and ensuring/recording proper food and equipment temperatures are required. The position includes completing test trays, tray accuracy audits, and supporting process improvement initiatives, while complying with current CDC hand hygiene guidelines.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1 year in food service.
• Knowledge of providing, preparing and serving inpatient meals, supplements, and menu selection services.
• Knowledge of care and maintenance of food and related equipment for delivering of meals.
• Knowledge of proper care and maintenance of food preparation areas.
• Knowledge of the principles for developing and maintaining a healthy diet.
• Computer skills particularly Microsoft Windows operating system.

Responsibilities

• Processing patient information including diet orders, diet changes, and special dietary requests.
• Acting as a lead worker directing the activities of Nutrition Care Associates ensuring timely and correct delivery of patient trays.
• Interacting with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.
• Performing clerical functions including answering the phone, typing, filing, word processing, and copying for support service departments as required.
• Visiting patients to monitor patient satisfaction, explain menu selection, and discuss food preferences.
• Maintaining Nutrition Office records including patient census and meal counts.
• Checking patient tray at the service line for accuracy, cleanliness, appearance, and compliance to patient's menu choices or tray cards.
• Communicating with supervisor/team leader, Registered Dietitians, Nutrition Care Associates, and Food Service Associates regarding patient preferences, requests for diet education, poor intake, allergies and special requests to ensure consistent, appropriate, safe and appealing meals.
• Answering phones for messages and dispatches personnel and other service requests via the computer.
• Correcting patient menus to meet the requirements of the prescribed diet and makes modifications as necessary.
• Handling food according to proper sanitary and safety guidelines.
• Following food service handling methods according to policies and procedures.
• Generating production sheets, tallies additional menu requests ('write ins') and sends to kitchen.
• Maintaining late add tally list of hot/cold foods and nourishments and sends to kitchen.
• Ensuring & recording, proper food and equipment temperatures.
• Completing test trays, tray accuracy audits and supports process improvement initiatives.
• Complying with current CDC hand hygiene guidelines.

Benefits

• Medical (including prescription)
• Supplemental insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement plans
• Tuition assistance
• Voluntary benefits
• Tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED