Dietary Aide

Position Summary

The Dietary Aide is responsible for provision of highest quality food service to residents and staff, safe food handling practices and proper sanitation procedures in keeping with the Ontario Regulation 243/84 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.  The Dietary Aide is responsible for cleaning dining room and serving areas, operating the dish machine, cleaning equipment, portioning salads, desserts and the like, and will assist the Cook in food preparation as necessary.  The Dietary Aide may assume the duties of Cook in his/her absence.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 The Dietary Aide’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the duties and responsibilities outlined below.  While specific assignments may vary on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, the following outlines the general expectations:

RESIDENT FOOD SERVICE

• Takes and records all temperatures of foods in the servery that are being served to the resident prior to each meal to ensure all food items are at proper temperatures as per standards; takes corrective action as necessary
• Sets tables for resident meal service
• Plates resident meals in the servery according to residents’ diet, likes and dislikes
• Serves resident meals by taking food to tables, if necessary; offers choice at meal service by announcing meal selection and/or offering demonstration plates
• Pours tea, coffee and hot water
• Portions desserts and garnishes as required
• Prepares food as assigned by Cook, if necessary
• Assumes responsibility of Cook in his/her absence
• Takes inventory of servery requirements and brings required supplies from main kitchen
• Supplies resident kitchenettes once daily

SANITATION AND SAFETY

• Reports concerns of the department, including repair and maintenance requirements to the Manager/Supervisor in a timely manner
• Ensures proper storage conditions and rotation of food supplies and leftovers; dating and labeling of foods is essential
• Sets and cleans tables and trays for meal service to residents
• Collects dirty dishes from dining room and kitchen
• Washes dishes after meals
• Cleans and sanitizes food preparation areas, storage areas, serving areas and refrigerators in servery
• Cleans juice machine and prepares juice for following day
• Empties food cart upon return to kitchen and washes cart after meal service
• Cleans equipment daily according to posted cleaning schedule
• Cleans staff dining room daily
• Operates dish machine

GENERAL

• Attends monthly Nutrition and Food Services staff meetings, department and facility in-services
• Performs all duties in a safe manner consistent with the Facility Statement of Philosophy, Department Goals, Mission Statement, and The Statement of Resident Rights
• Performs other duties in a safe manner and assumes other responsibilities as required.

Education

• Minimum of grade 12 education 
• Must have completed or be prepared to enroll in the Public Health Food Safety Certificate Program or equivalent.  .
• Must be able to read and write English 
• Must be able to understand and follow verbal and written instructions

• Completion of approved Food Worker program (current students are exempt)

  Experience

• Two to three years training and experience in food service is required
• Must have formal and on-the-job training in quantity food preparation, cooking, food service, food and equipment safety, and sanitation 

• Demonstrates leadership, decision making, problem solving and communication skills

  Personal

• Ability to work harmoniously and demonstrate flexibility 
• Ability to maintain high professional and ethical standards
• Willingness to take on new challenges and develop as position warrants
• Must be reliable, conscientious, neat, clean and demonstrate tact and courtesy in dealing with others
• Must be flexible and able to work to deadlines