Nutrition Assistant I

Hebrew SeniorLife • Boston, MA

1d • $16 - $23 • Onsite

About The Position

As an integral part of the clinical nutrition and culinary team, the Nutrition Assistant serves as a liaison between patients and the kitchen. The role assists patients with menu selections and processes those selections to help ensure patients receive the appropriate diets and requested items. The position also provides household kitchens with needed supplies.

The Nutrition Assistant supports patient and household food service operations, including menu assistance, diet communication, inventory management, food safety, staff training, and customer service. The role helps ensure that staff and operations follow applicable departmental and Department of Public Health guidelines for hygiene, safety, uniforms, sanitation, equipment upkeep, customer service, and food presentation.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• ServSafe® Certification must be obtained within six months of hire.
• Proficiency with general and discipline-specific computer software and systems, including MS Office.
• Effective verbal, electronic, and written communication skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to lift, pull, and push 25 pounds.
• Ability to read a computer screen for extended periods.
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Strong customer service skills when working with patients, families, and staff.
• High attention to detail to ensure menus and diet orders are completed and entered accurately and trays are accurate.
• Ability to understand cost controls and inventories.
• Ability to manage multiple daily tasks.
• Ability to motivate and train staff.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or some college nutrition coursework preferred.
• Food service experience in a hospital, contract foodservice, fine dining, or restaurant setting, with inventory and purchasing knowledge and control preferred.
• Prior experience as a nutrition assistant or knowledge of therapeutic diets preferred.
• Knowledge of kosher food and the workings of a kosher kitchen is a plus.
• Understanding of therapeutic and consistency diets as prescribed by medical providers.
• Desire to exceed patient and guest expectations.

Responsibilities

• Customize patient household snack requirements.
• Assist RSU patients with menu selections and enter selections into the computer.
• Assist RSU and Pantry as needed.
• Provide guidance to RSU Pantry and conduct tray checks.
• Conduct meal rounds and test trays monthly.
• Conduct Environment of Care Rounds weekly.
• Attend the Monthly Food Committee Meeting.
• Train Patient Care Associates on culinary requirements.
• Monitor and communicate patient dietary requirements.
• Ensure staff and operations follow established guidelines for personal hygiene, safety, uniforms, sanitation, equipment upkeep, customer service, and food presentation as required by the Department of Public Health.
• Conduct pre-meal meetings to ensure staff understand the daily menu and portion sizes.
• Provide menus and modified menus, and provide copies to patients upon request.
• Collect and distribute refrigerator/freezer temperature logs, juice logs, and meal temperature logs.
• Prepare and print stickers for puree, kosher, and special diets.
• Deliver special diets and deli items.
• Respond throughout the day to requests from households, patients, and Dietitians.
• Stock households with special tube-feeding supplements as needed.
• Maintain household cleanliness.
• Manage household inventory and the requisition process with the purchasing team to support cost containment.
• Track daily requisition costs using prepared Excel sheets and the Food Service Computer Program.
• Promote effective interpersonal and interdisciplinary relationships and maintain professional conduct.
• Identify and resolve interpersonal conflicts constructively; demonstrate a positive, supportive attitude and patience and tact when dealing with healthcare personnel.
• Represent the department positively when interacting with visitors, residents, and staff, and communicate effectively in written and verbal form.
• Contribute to efficient and productive department operations; complete assignments with minimal assistance and follow through, take initiative, accept assignments, identify problems, and work to improve systems and procedures.
• Communicate with the supervisor about missing or defective equipment.
• Attend regular meetings as assigned.
• Perform additional related duties as required or directed.

What This Job Offers

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