Food Services Assistant

The Role

Prepares and portions residents’ meals in dining rooms, with consideration to their dietary profiles, preferences, and requests. Supports care approaches that are evidence-informed, recognize the uniqueness of each person, put people before tasks, and support an awareness of one’s contribution to the relationship, including personal attitudes, values, and actions.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to create a caring, person-centred, home-like environment where residents feel listened to and cared about.
• Supports family, visitor, and volunteer involvement in the daily running of the home area. Maintains relationships and communication with residents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Portions and assembles food and snacks for resident meal and snack services. Prepares beverages for snack services.
• Encourages meaningful, relaxed, social mealtimes for residents and team members. Assists residents during mealtimes. Communicates with other members of the care team about residents’ dietary needs and preferences.
• Prepares (cooks/bakes) breakfast (e.g., eggs, hot and cold cereals, toast, muffins) and other items as required.
• Provides supplies for alternative breakfast service and requests outside regular meal/snack times.
• Sets up meal service for each kitchenette dining room (e.g., hot food wells, snack/beverage carts).
• Reheats food to required temperatures and checks and records food temperatures. Takes corrective action when food is outside safe food serving temperature range.
• Refers to and follows resident dietary profiles ensuring food is prepared per physician/dietitian’s orders. 
• Transports supply carts and hot food wagons to/from the central kitchen to kitchenette.
• Receives, labels, and stores food supplies. Disposes unusable food. Returns leftover food to production kitchen. 
• Communicates observations regarding residents' eating habits and preferences to dietitian, supervisor, and/or nursing staff as appropriate and records information in communication book. 
• Loads, runs, and unloads dishwashers after meal service and whenever needed.
• Cleans kitchen equipment, kitchenette, and storage areas. Operates kitchenette equipment appropriately and maintains in good working condition and contacts Facilities for repairs as required. Reports safety issues/risks immediately and takes appropriate action.
• Completes meal service audit forms to show overages and underages of food supplies from the main kitchen, as requested by supervisor. Maintains inventory levels of staple food supplies and orders supply from main kitchen.
• Completes daily temperature checklists for equipment (e.g., fridge, dishwasher), and reports unsafe levels to supervisor. 
• Interacts with staff, residents, families, and visitors to respond to general questions, discuss operational needs/logistics, and request supplies or services. Contacts appropriate staff for assistance as needed. 
• Keeps knowledge current through in-service training and communications. Demonstrates and explains work procedures to help train volunteers and new staff as directed. 
• Participates in team meetings and provides input to improve work procedures.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of reading, writing, math, food preparation skills, and safe food handling practices acquired through a Grade 12 education and completion/enrollment in a food services program (e.g., food service worker certificate, cook certificate, food and nutrition diploma) plus related experience.
• Must have current Safe Food Handling Certificate.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, guidelines, and related legislation (e.g., privacy, health and safety).
• Basic understanding of the geriatric population.
• Must have a tuberculosis (TB) test and required immunization(s).
• Ability to demonstrate compassion, validate emotions, support dignity, and promote understanding of those we serve. 
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions in English.
• Human relations and communication skills to interact pleasantly and professionally with residents, their families, and other staff; demonstrate a customer care/service approach; engage residents and their families in recreation and social programs using positive language to support emotional wellbeing; and participate as an effective team member.
• Organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills with ability to work independently, comply with schedules, prioritize tasks effectively, and complete work efficiently.
• Ability to make accurate mental calculations (e.g., portion sizes, number of dishes, preparing beverages).
• Ability to read and understand policies, procedures, and instructions (e.g., resident diet profiles, work assignments, product labels, menus and menu modifications, temperature charts). Ability to complete forms, requisitions, temperature checklists, and record information in communication logbook. 
• Ability to work shifts, weekend hours, and statutory holidays as scheduled.
• Must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police check. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities