Cook

**Job description** The Cook is responsible for preparing all meals and snacks to be served to residents, staff and visitors of the home, in accordance with safe food handling techniques and providing high nutritive value, flavour, colour, texture and appearance, following standardized recipes. **Essential responsibilities** - Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies - Operate all equipment in dietary department; clean and sanitize food service equipment and wares; complete pre-start up equipment checks as necessary - Strict adherence to the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and regulations for Nutrition and Hydration, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Public Health Regulations and the Sanitation Code - Control of food storage rooms, freezers and refrigerators; date, label, and store all food properly; reduce waste by following production sheets and recipes; monitor, report and discard leftovers according to policy - Use all tools and information provided including recipes, therapeutic menus and production sheets to maintain the highest possible quality and consistency and quantity - Keep records, receive, rotate and inventory products; order required items as needed - Ensure all special dietary needs are met; follow therapeutic portioning guidelines to meet residents' dietary requirements - Prepare texture modified food as directed to ensure proper texture and amount - Ensure that food is ready to be served at required meal and snack times - Serve meals as required - Monitor, record and maintain Quality Assurance records - Discuss resident meals service requirements with food service coordinators and supervisor - Ensure that home and dietary department policies and procedures are followed **Essential qualifications** - Secondary School Diploma or equivalent education (e.g. GED certificate) required - **Labour Certificate of Qualification of Cook (LCQC) required (Red Seal)**: - Experience working as a cook in a Long-Term Care setting preferred; previous experience working in a non-Long Term Care setting will be considered - Individuals without their LCQC are only given one opportunity to obtain it and should they not be successful, they are not entitled to hold a Cook’s position until they have obtained an LCQC (as per Unifor Local 127 Collective Agreement, Letter of Understanding) - Possess excellent decision-making skills required for estimating food requirements and portions - Knowledge of good sanitation and safe food handling techniques to avoid infection and spread of contagious illness - Knowledge of Ministry of Health standards and criteria for food services, Public Health regulations and sanitation code **Other qualifications** - Food preparation courses would be an asset - Experience belonging to a work committee (i.e. health & safety, education, wellness, etc.) an asset - Ability to read, write and accurately follow written and verbal instructions - Ability to answer phone professionally and respond to issues/requests - Must possess effective listening skills and the ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner - Previous experience providing staff-to-staff orientation an asset - Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written - Basic computer skills **Certifications, memberships, licenses** - Labour Certificate of Qualification of Cook (LCQC) required - Current Food Safety Training certificate completed with Public Health required **Work environment/hours of work** - This position works mostly indoors - This position is expected to be available for a minimum of 22.5 hours per week - This position works weekday and weekend hours on day and afternoon shifts - Must be able to accept on short notice call-in hours for days, afternoons, and weekends, which may include four (4) hour shifts. **COVID-19 Vaccination** The Municipality of Chatham-Kent no longer requires a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. Although it is not mandatory to be vaccinated, it is highly encouraged. **Background check requirements** This position works with vulnerable residents in a position of trust and authority, on a sustained and regular basis, in a largely unsupervised capacity. A Vulnerable Sector Screen is required (Fixing Long-Term Care Act section 252 O. Reg. 246/22) prior to being accepted for employment. You must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a vulnerable police check. All staff members shall promptly provide the employer with a signed declaration disclosing new charges, convictions, orders and restraining orders, consistent with Ontario Regulation section 253 O. Reg 246/22 made under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, with respect to the period since the date the person’s last criminal reference check under subsection (2) was conducted. **Essential physical and/or safety requirements** - Annual Flu immunization is required - 2 step TB skin test to be completed within two weeks of starting position - The employer may request a "Physical Task Analysi