Cook

Pennington Health Services

2001 Eastwood Drive

Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Position Purpose:

The primary purpose of this position is the responsibility of preparing and serving meals to individuals receiving services, employees, and guests. Also, the supervision of dietary aides in the absence of the Dietary Manager.

Essential Job Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Organizational Responsibilities:

• Adhere to, support and promote St. Francis Health Services’ Mission and Core Values, philosophy, goals and objectives while conducting company business.
• Maintain confidentiality of company and individual receiving services related information at all times.
• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the care center as appointed by the Administrator.
• Ensure that all dietary procedures are followed in accordance with established policies.
• Ensure menus are maintained and filed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Review menus prior to preparation of food.
• Prepare meals in accordance with planned menus.
• Follow and provide diet per physician’s order.
• Process diet changes as directed by Nursing Services.
• Inspect special diet trays to assure that the correct diet is served to the individual receiving services.
• Perform administrative requirements such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc. and submit to the Dietary Director.
• Coordinate dietary service with other departments as necessary.
• Assist in inventorying and storing incoming food, supplies, etc. as necessary.
• Obtain food supplies for next meal or day.
• Maintain cleanliness of work area (i.e. counters, stove, sinks).
• Deliver food carts and trays to designated areas as directed.
• Clear tables, trays and carts as directed.
• Wash and sanitize utensils and dishes as directed and return to storage area.
• Sweep and mop floor as needed or directed.
• Carry out garage at the end of each meal as needed or directed.

Individual Receiving Services Care Responsibilities:

• Does not disclose individual receiving services’ protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
• Ensure that all care is provided in privacy, as appropriate, and to knock before entering a individual receiving services’ room or individual receiving services care area such as tub rooms.
• Report all grievances and complaints made by the individual receiving services, family, or visitors to the appropriate supervisor following the care center’s established procedures.
• Report to licensed staff any necessary observations made regarding potential changes in individual receiving services status, utilizing the STOP AND WATCH tool.

Individual Responsibilities:

• Report all complaints and grievances, according to company policies and procedures, which are made by the individual receiving services, family, or visitors and make a written/oral report to supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
• Report any communicable or infectious disease that you contract to the appropriate supervisor.
• Prepare and serve meals that are palatable and appetizing in appearance.
• Prepare food in accordance with established portion control procedures.
• Prepare food for therapeutic diets in accordance with planned menus.
• Prepare and serve snacks.
• Ensure that appropriate equipment and utensils are provided with the individual receiving services’s meal tray.
• Prepare and serve substitute foods to individual receiving services who refuse food served.
• Assist in food preparation for special meals (i.e. parties).
• Follow recipes.

Education and Experience:

• Experience working in a dietary kitchen and/or commercial kitchen.

Specific Requirements:

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language while conducting company business.
• Must be able to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must adhere to the Corporate Compliance Program Code of Conduct.
• Must adhere to company policies and procedures.
• Must have a positive and friendly attitude.
• Must be able to solve diverse procedural problems and plans.
• Must be able to communicate, coordinate, and facilitate with other departments, families, and the general public.
• Must respect the individual receiving services’ personal and property rights.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, individual receiving services, visitors and the general public.
• Must possess the ability to work harmoniously with other personnel and departments.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the disabled and elderly individuals within the care center who may at times be ill, confused, uncooperative, emotionally upset, or hostile.
• Must be willing to work beyond normal working hours when necessary and on other shifts/days.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• Must be able to request and/or accept direction/education as needed to develop new skills
• Able to operate the following equipment:
o Alarms and other safety interventions/devices;
o Call light systems;
o Walkie talkies and/or pagers, if provided by care center.

Working Environment:

• Work in all areas of the care center and its premises.
• Move intermittently during working hours.
• Is involved with individual receiving services, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset individual receiving services, family members, personnel and visitors.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is subject to strain in lifting, moving and supporting individual receiving services.
• Communicate with all employees and other department directors.
• Work beyond normal working hours, on weekends and on other shifts/days, when necessary.
• Is subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g. severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster etc.)
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc. throughout the workday, as well as reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Must utilize proper body mechanics during every shift worked.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of the position can be fully met.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to walk, stand and sit.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, twist, reach above shoulders and push/pull frequently.
• Must be able to kneel, crawl and crouch occasionally and climb rarely.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions during the work day.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this care center.
• Must be able to follow infection control procedures when exposed to infection.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of thirty (30) pounds to a minimum height of five (5) feet and able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum of fifty (50) feet.
• May be needed to assist in the evacuation of individual receiving services during emergency situations.