Food Service Worker

Position Summary:

Under general supervision of the Dietary Supervisor accomplishes the Dietary Department’s Warming Kitchen strategic objectives by assisting with planning and organizing the assigned functions required to operate and maintain departmental activities and services. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible in providing food preparation for patients.
• Establish, implement, and communicate goals, objectives, policies and procedures in accordance with strategic plan.
• Assist with following dietary orders in accordance with current standards of food service practice and department policies and procedures.
• Prepare dietary meals for patients’ according to physician orders.
• Prepare food using the diet manual for special diet patients
• Prepare food for patients in a timely manner.
• Assist with coordinating dietary services within the hospital.
• Clean and maintain work area in the Dietary Department.
• Wash, clean, and sanitize all dishes as scheduled.
• Prioritize work assignments and duties for dietary department functions.
• Responsible in completing and delivering food orders.
• Responsible for all incoming shipment orders and completes all receiving reports.
• Keep the department informed of status of activities and of significant events and problems by attending meetings, submitting reports, and meeting individually as necessary.
• Complete duties and assignments to maintain compliance within the Dietary Department.
• Ensure confidentiality of all employee and patient information.
• Effectively involved self in team operations by coaching and assisting with training of employees when assessed as being prepared to do so.
• Assist with planning, delegating, monitoring, and completing assignments in a timely manner.
• Attend regular staff meetings to ensure communication among personnel regarding program-related activities.
• Contribute to departmental effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range issues and goals that must be addressed; providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations; recommending options and courses of actions; implementing directives.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending seminars, educational workshops, classes, and conferences.
• Comply with company policies and procedures; including meeting any mandatory training requirements.
• Maintain professional behavior within the department and abstains from behavior which may negatively impact the work environment.
• Assist with quality improvement initiatives through communication of concerns and opportunities for improvement with the Dietary Supervisor.
• Maintain respectful and courteous manner when communicating with staff in other departments.
• Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge, Abilities, Skills, and Certifications:

• Knowledge of applicable tribal, federal, state, county and local laws, regulations and Joint Commission Accreditation.
• Knowledge of Navajo Nation Environmental Health regulations.
• Knowledge of hospital food services in a warming kitchen, food sanitation and safety, quantity food production and use of quantity food production equipment, fire safety and reporting fire hazards.
• Knowledge of preparation of special diets, use of diet manual to prepare special diets
• Knowledge of effective principles and practices of education and development.
• Knowledge of business English, proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mathematics.
• Ability to operate and have knowledge of dietary kitchen equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in the English language both verbally and in writing with staff and the general public.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds and with co-workers at all levels.
• Ability to effectively work with individuals and demonstrate leadership and team-building skills with empathy and enthusiasm.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to speak the Navajo language and/or familiarity with the Navajo Way.
• Ability to analyze situations and adopt appropriate courses of action or utilize a team approach to address situations.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict time lines.
• Ability to demonstrate excellence in everything, and continually seek improvement in results.
• Skill in operating business computers and office machines. Familiarity with computer programs such as the Windows environment, specifically Word and Excel.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee occasionally is required to stand; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in an office with moderate noise level. Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required.