Dietary Aide Operations

**Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note**:
As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

**Summary**: Within the context of a patient/resident/client and family centered model of care and, in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care (PHC), the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the Manager, Food Services and with work direction from Coordinator, Food Service Supervisor, and/or Cook, the Dietary Aide carries out a variety of duties according to Food Safe protocols and quality and safety standards. These include duties such as: portioning and serving meals; assisting with food production by washing and peeling vegetables and fruit; preparing coffee/tea and toast, portioning desserts and assembling sandwiches and salads; preparing and portioning diet items in accordance with nutritional plans; and measuring and combining food and beverage ingredients by methods such as grinding, blending, slicing, dicing and/or puree. Checks patient/resident meals/trays to ensure dietary accuracy. The position also strips wagons/trays, washes dishes and pots, cleans food wagons, kitchen equipment, fridges and storage areas and wipes down tables and counter areas. Sweeps and damp mops floors and removes garbage. Delivers wagons/trays to patient/resident units. Retrieves and stores food items. Replenishes food, beverage and paper supplies. Performs related clerical duties.

**Qualifications / Skills and Education**: Education
Grade 10 plus one year’s recent, related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Food Safe Certificate Level 1.

Skills and Abilities
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Ability to deal with others effectively.
Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
Ability to organize work.
Ability to operate related equipment.

**Duties and Responsibilities**: Sets up food wagons/carts and serves food by methods such as pre-portioning food in accordance with portion control guidelines. Plates meals and reheats. Loads meals on food wagons/carts and sets up nourishment trays in accordance with nutritional care plans, delivering and collecting wagons/carts to the unit/area or fridge storage, delivering and picking up meal trays as per service style of facility, and placing food on plates according to menus. Checks dietary trays for accuracy.
Collects patient information/food orders, serves patients/residents/customers in a friendly, efficient manner following outlined steps of service. Responds to related patient/resident concerns and relays relevant information to supervisor. Maintains confidentiality.
Checks and records food and fridge temperatures by inserting thermometer in edibles and reading fridge thermometers. Advises supervisor of discrepancies arising from the actual versus required food and beverage temperatures.
Counts, weighs and packages food items. Prepares beverages and food items such as tea, coffee and toast; assembles items such as sandwiches and salads. Prepares fruits and vegetables by washing and cleaning, peeling and portioning.
Prepares and portions therapeutic/texture diet items including nourishment's; measures and combines food and beverage ingredients by methods such as grinding, blending, slicing, dicing and/or puree; and checks patient/resident meals to ensure dietary accuracy.
Strips, racks and washes items such as dishes, pots, pans and utensils; operates dishwashing and/or pot washing machines; and stacks clean dishes and utensils.
Packages, labels, dates and transfers food to and from the refrigerator or freezer according to food safety standards. Replenishes food, beverage and paper supplies by transferring from storage areas to work areas following established procedures. Retrieve and utilize leftover prepared food items, opened packages and/or cans before preparing further amounts. Stores and/or discards leftovers according to established procedures.
As per site requirements, may be required to operate a cash register and optical price scanners. Weighs items if required. Receives cash, debit and credit card payments. Provides change for items purchased. Answers customer queries. Prepares, receives and verifies cash register float. Verifies receipts against cash register printout and balances. Prepares and completes bank deposit slip. Empties cash from dispensing machines and counts and records amounts.
Performs duties in accordance with all sanitation and safety requirements (e.g., HACCP and WHMIS). Reports injuries and safety hazards to Manager or designate immediately.
Maintains work area