Food Service Aide

Location/Department:  Cafeteria - Food Services

PT 25/pp includes weekend and holiday rotations 

Shift hours are 4:00p-7:30p

Job Summary:

Food Service Aides assist in preparation of high quality, nutritious foods for patient tray line & the cafeteria. Aides help to assemble trays, stock pantries, assist patients with completing their menus, run trays to patient rooms & clean dishes. Food Service Aides comply with all state & federal food safety guidelines. Food Service Aides spend most of their time in the kitchen area, but do stock pantries & run trays to other areas of the hospital.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:  None

 Duties/Responsibilities:

• Completes daily sanitation/cleaning duties as assigned.


• Covers all hair with hairnet/cap when in kitchen area.


• Does not wear jewelry, nail polish, fake nails or excessive makeup while working.


• Completes weekly & monthly sanitation duties thoroughly as assigned.


• Wears apron in work area & remove dirty aprons when going to onstage area.


• Washes hands thoroughly & at times outlined in the Infection Control Policy.


• Cleans & sanitizes using approved solutions according to departmental policy.


• Records food temperatures during production, before holding & before serving.


• Checks quality, temperature & appearance of food being served, relaying any problems to supervisor.


• Dates & covers all prepared food placed in refrigerator.

As Dishroom

• Dishes, cafeteria trays & other cooking utensils are washed using proper cleaning & sanitizing techniques.


• Clean dishes, trays, silver & other cooking utensils are put away when dry. 


• Stocks all pantries as listed on par stocking sheet, rotates stock & checks for expiration dates.


• All cafeteria trash is taken out & the bag replaced.


• Dish machine temps are recorded accurately at the start & end of the shift. 


• Dish room is cleaned thoroughly including stray dishes, etc. that get stuck in the machine. 


• Dish room area is mopped & cleaned using appropriate cleaning solutions.


• Completes daily cleaning duties as assigned. 


• Serves on the line or cashes when necessary, in a friendly, personable manner.


• Keeps trays & trash cleaned up in the café & trays restocked in café.


• Take food carts up when ready to take up. Pick up dirty carts when done.


• Clear carts with dirty dishes & clean them thoroughly. Run silverware through dish machine. 


• Help set up carts for catering. Deliver catering carts & pick up catering when done. Clean dishes & put things away.


• Assist with putting stock away on delivery days.


• Assists other team members as needed.


• Check Versatrac


• Brings food cart & trays down to dish room after lunch.


• Assists nursing staff with passing trays.

As Second 

• Clears the printer each morning of diet orders & prepares menus for that day.


• Prepares lunch & dinner cold food trays accurately.


• Utilizes garnishes &/or proper plate presentation techniques.


• Prepares snacks for patients.


• Answers the phone using the MMH greeting & prepares/runs trays to patients in a timely manner.


• Takes temperatures & records them accurately.


• Completes & records an accurate tray count before each meal.


• Sweeps kitchen & takes trash out in tray room.


• Cleans pans out of steam table after meal service & refill with water.


• Works with dish room to clear, wash & put away dishes/cooking utensils/trays & silver.


• Empty trash in café & take trays back to dish room in a timely manner.


• Assist with putting stock away on delivery days.


• Prepares patient trays for tray line using proper silver & condiments per diet order.


• Refills the milk, butter, & creamers on the tray line.


• Refills all condiments in tray room after each meal.


• Prepares drinks & cups of ice for patients for tray line.


• Works with dish room to clear & put away dishes.


• Accurately sets up catering carts, delivers & picks up when needed.


• Assists other team members as needed.


• Check Versatrac 


• Assists nursing staff with passing trays.


• Turns on base warmer

As Aide 

• Set up danishes, donuts & muffins in café. Set up salad bar with fruit & parfait for breakfast.


• Operates cash register in a friendly, positive manner.


• Accurately records cash on hand & turns in café cash & register receipts.


• Clean sandwich bar & refill


• Keep tomato, pickle, & lettuce filled in grill room. Fill all juices, milk, & water in café.


• Fill cold case


• Accurately sets up catering carts, delivers & picks up when needed.


• Cleans & sanitizes tables in café.


• Assists with checking & putting stock away when truck comes in.


• Prepares doctors’ lunches & delivers timely.


• Fill ice machines in café & keep coffee machine clean.


• Fill all paper products in café.


• Assists other team members as needed.


• Check Versatrac


• Serve breakfast in cafeteria


• Make sandwiches for cold case

As PC

• Check Versatrec


• Accurately records patient’s diet & diet changes in the Med Surg card-x.


• Reviews menu choices with each Med Surg/OB patient & records likes/dislikes.


• Explains diet to each patient & provides diet education as needed.


• Notifies dietitian if additional education is required.


• Accurately checks every patient menu to determine correct diet is being followed & supplements/snacks listed.


• Assists with Patient Identification Monitoring.


• Assists nursing staff with passing trays.


• Provides meal substitutions to patient trays as needed based on patients likes/dislikes.


• Prepares clear & full liquid diets as needed.


• Notifies tray line of last-minute diet changes & discharges.


• Completes daily meal rounds.


• Prepares trays for patients as needed.


• Attends & participates in RD/PC meetings.


• Cleans & stocks fridges on Med Surg, Special Care & OB units.


• Provides snacks & beverages for medical staff lounge. Ensures coffee machine is filled & working daily.


• Delivers between meal snacks & nourishments to areas.


• Provides coffee, snacks & bereavement trays as needed to patient families.


• Completes basic diet therapy course provided by Registered Dietitian & maintains competency by completing yearly review & test.


• Acts as liaison between nursing & food service team members by communicating concerns & compliments in a positive manner.


• Provides meals for the patient’s family if they are unable to leave the patient.


• Delivers late trays as needed from kitchen to patient’s room.


• Monitors patient discharges to prevent unnecessary tray preparation & delivery.


• Independently manages tasks during the day utilizing input from food service staff, dietitians, nurses & patient needs in an effective & efficient manner.


• Stocks ER/SDS/LAB/DR lounges & any other areas as needed.


• Picks up patient menus at the end of the day to prepare for the following day.


• Delivers trays & menus as needed during the day.


• Restocks stocking cart each day.


• Assists with bi-weekly ordering.

 Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to read & follow patient counts


• Strong customer service skills, able to speak with guests & serve food


• Utilize some kitchen equipment, such as dishwasher & food processor

 Education and Experience:

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent


• No work experience required

Physical Requirements:

• Frequent walking, standing, pushing, pulling, stooping, kneeling, reaching, talking, & use of hands


• May need to lift up to 25 lbs; occasionally up to 50 lbs