SUMMARY: Under close supervision, the SLH Food Service Worker performs routine work involved in food preparation, cooking and serving including simple food handling, portioning, tray assembling, cleaning, sanitizing, mopping, sweeping, loading food into carts, cleaning trucks and equipment, washing large and heavy pots and pans, and transporting food carts to patient areas or dining areas and removing refuse to disposal area. Keeps dining areas and equipment in a clean and orderly condition. Performs related duties as required.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in
this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties
listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

• Prepares salads, sandwiches, fruit cups and other outtake food items for retail sale. Follows standardized recipes, portioning and presentation standards. Completes and utilizes daily production worksheets and waste log sheets. Tastes completed meals to ensure quality. Prepares special diets as ordered by doctors, grinding and otherwise preparing and cooking meat, vegetables and other foods, assembling and weighing them according to recipe.

• Receives, inspects, transports, and stores food staples, vegetables, dairy products and other foods and kitchen supplies. Unloads food supplies from delivery trucks, stores food and supplies in correct containers and in proper storage areas according to department guidelines as indicated by non-spoilage of food. Stores, labels and dates all food items according to policy. Maintains, organizes and rotates storage of dry goods, refrigerated and frozen products. Checks assigned areas for expired food products. Keeps storage area clean.

• Delivers meals and nourishments to patients within established time frames and does so in a courteous and professional manner following departmental procedures. Collects trays from patient rooms or units in a courteous and professional manner, following departmental procedures. Transports food carts and equipment in a safe manner throughout the facility as required.

• Assists department leaders in taking inventory as necessary. Inventories, records, and delivers par stock supplies to identified units and cleans as per department policy and procedures.

• Cleans stoves, steam kettles, ovens, and other standing kitchen equipment; sweeps and mops floors; removes dirty dishes from dining tables to the kitchen; cleans tables, walls and chairs, and other general cleaning such as refrigerators or cupboards. Scrapes food from dirty dishes; washes dishes, pots, and pans either by hand or places them in racks or on conveyor to dishwashing machines. Operates and cleans equipment per department procedures after each use and in compliance with the master cleaning schedule. Steam cleans or hoses out garbage cans. Collects and places garbage and trash in designated containers. Breaks down cardboard boxes. Maintains cleaning and maintenance schedules for equipment, storage and work areas. Reports needed maintenance or repairs of equipment used.

• Makes up trays for patients' or juveniles special diets; weighs servings, obtains special items, dishes up food according to diet required, and labels for specified patient.

• On a relief basis or as a trainee, assists a Cook or relieves a Senior Food Service Worker, or Room Service Coordinator.

• Sets up cafeteria food line, turning on steam tables, putting out utensils and keeping serving line supplied with food; dishes up and serves food in cafeteria tray line; works in a kitchen or dining area keeping food hot. Sets up retail service and monitors food temperature and quality. Serves accurate portion sizes in retail settings. Assists with serving customers as needed. Sets up catered functions.

• Complies with department's cash register and pricing methodology, with minimum overages and/or shortages. Performs cashier functions of change-making, accurate ring-up of sale, and making corrections to monetary errors to customers.

• Secures designated areas of potential theft, dangerous chemicals, supplies and equipment to safeguard employees. Identifies and utilizes cleaning chemicals following directions recommended by manufacturers and per SDS sheets.

• Communicates any patient or customer related problems/concerns to appropriate personnel, in a timely manner following departmental procedures. Completes all daily, weekly or monthly logs/reports on a timely basis meeting all prescribed deadlines.

• Adheres to hospital confidentiality and patient's rights policy as outlined in the hospital's HIPAA policies and procedures. Complies with federal, state and local health and sanitation regulations and department sanitation procedures. Utilizes equipment in performing job functions according to department's safety procedures. Read and complies with all policies and procedures as appropriate. Follows HACCP guidelines when assembling and distributing food supplies to ensure quality and safety of food supply. Follows hospital and department safety policies and procedures to include incident reporting. Follows hospital and departmental infection control policies and procedures in food handling, storage, wearing gloves, washing hands, grooming, maintaining personal hygiene and proper uniform, etc. Maintains a clean, sanitary working environment.

• Adheres to Emergency Preparedness Program. Participates in disaster drills as appropriate. Adheres to Life Safety Program and participates in fire drills as appropriate. Responds to utility failures following department guidelines. Follows the hospital's protocols for Hazardous Materials and Waste Program.
  
  
• Participates and attends departmental meetings and staff development programs as appropriate. Orients and trains staff, as applicable.
  
  QUALIFICATIONS:
  
  Education: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); Six months of experience in either serving or assisting in the preparation of food or washing dishes, pots, pans in a large cafeteria or dining room.; or equivalent combination of education and experience.