Cook

The cook is responsible for preparing / cooking meals and other food requests based on a specific menu on a timely basis, and within a required volume, to meet the food needs of the residents and staff. Responsible for promptly cleaning and organizing the work areas to maintain the required health statutes of the facility.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Other duties may be assigned.)

Prepare hot and cold food(s) and salad(s) based on predetermined menu(s) from either raw, fresh and/or frozen meats, vegetables or other food supplies.

• Ensure that cooking procedures are properly performed to provide proper nutritional value to each meal/food, on a timely basis and within volume requirements.
• Clean and sanitize after each meal and/or shift including stove/oven, floor areas, sheet pans, steam table, and cooking utensils to maintain required sanitary conditions and to meet health regulations. 
• Utilize proper storage and/or disposal of excess or uneaten food(s) and salad(s) not used or consumed, to meet required health regulations.
• Attend mandatory in-service/workshops and performs other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or other management personnel.
• Review menus with staff prior to preparation of food.
• Inspect special diet trays to assure they are prepared correctly.
• Collaborate with the facility’s dietary manager as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Review and update all adjustments to the resident’s diet from nursing services.
• Prepares food in accordance with standardized recipes and special diet orders.
• Assure safety regulations are followed at all times by all personnel.
• Assure established infection control and universal precautions are maintained when performing duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Must have one year cooking experience (institutional preferred); knowledge of dietary regulations helpful.

Must pass food handlers’ physical examination and maintain good sanitation and personal hygiene.

• Must be able to follow diet instructions and menus, compute quantities, and follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to read, write and speak the English language in an understandable manner and to be able to carefully follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, lift and move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Maintain good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Ability to manage and cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position accordingly.
• Work closely with ill, disabled, elderly, and emotionally upset people.
• Assume the responsibility for maintaining professional competence through participation in programs, seminars, and/or training. 
• Willing to work beyond the normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Ability to handle department equipment according to standard procedures.
• Ability to work effectively with residents, staff, and visitors with flexibility, personal integrity, sensitivity, and discretion at all times. 
• Reports all accidents and incidents to supervisor no matter how minor they may be.
• Attends and participates in in-service classes, on-the-job programs, etc. as scheduled and directed.
• Honor the Residents’ Rights polices at all times.
• Maintains and protect the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information (PHI) per the company’s HIPAA medical privacy policy. 
• Be expected (and required) to perform any task in a safe, sanitary and efficient manner in accordance with established procedures.
• Follows facility safety program.
• Assumes accountability for data contained in the Employee Handbook.
• Any exposure to blood or body fluids that contain visible blood must be reported to supervisor on the shift in which the incident occurs. 
• Be familiar with universal precautions (i.e. frequent hand washing, using gloves, etc.).
• Understand that this position contains Category I tasks that may involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. 
• Ability to understand and use universal precautions and appropriate protective measures, which are readily available to every employee, engaged in Category I tasks.
• Ability to perform all functions of the job classification without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• This list of functions, duties, responsibilities, and skills is not intended to be all-inclusive and the employer reserves the right to assign additional duties and responsibilities as necessary.