Cook

Position Type: Full-Time | Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Position Summary

The Cook is responsible for preparing nutritious, appealing, and properly portioned meals and snacks for residents of an assisted living facility specializing in Mental Health Rehabilitation Services. This position supports resident wellness and recovery by maintaining a safe, respectful, and consistent dining environment and by following approved menus, dietary instructions, food-safety standards, and facility policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Prepare breakfast and lunch for residents each scheduled day.

· Prepare dinner in advance, portion and label it correctly, and provide clear reheating and serving instructions for the night shift.

· Prepare and portion three resident snacks per day.

· Follow approved menus, recipes, portion sizes, meal schedules, and documented dietary requirements.

· Accommodate physician-ordered or facility-approved special diets, food allergies, texture modifications, and other nutritional needs as directed.

· Maintain accurate meal, snack, temperature, inventory, and sanitation records as required.

· Check food temperatures during preparation, holding, cooling, storage, and reheating preparation; take corrective action when standards are not met.

· Receive, rotate, label, date, and store food and supplies using safe food-storage practices.

· Monitor inventory and promptly report low stock, expired products, equipment concerns, or supply needs to the supervisor.

· Keep the kitchen, appliances, utensils, food-contact surfaces, storage areas, and dining-related work areas clean and sanitary.

· Prevent cross-contamination and follow handwashing, glove-use, illness-reporting, and infection-control requirements.

· Coordinate respectfully with direct-care and night-shift staff to support timely meal service and continuity of resident care.

· Interact with residents calmly, respectfully, and professionally while maintaining confidentiality, dignity, and appropriate boundaries.

· Promptly report safety concerns, changes affecting a resident’s meal service, or resident-related incidents through the facility’s chain of command.

· Complete required training and perform other food-service duties assigned within the scope of the position.

Minimum Qualifications

· High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

· Previous cooking, food-service, assisted living, healthcare, behavioral health, or residential-care experience preferred.

· Knowledge of basic food preparation, sanitation, portion control, and safe food handling.

· Ability to follow menus, recipes, dietary instructions, written procedures, and verbal directions.

· Ability to organize work independently and complete all meals and snacks within required timeframes.

· Dependable attendance and ability to work the assigned Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. schedule.

· Ability to communicate professionally and work cooperatively with residents, supervisors, and facility staff.

· Must meet facility screening, training, and employment requirements.

Food Handler Requirement

A current Food Handler’s license/certificate is preferred. If the selected candidate does not have one, the facility will provide access to an approved course to obtain the required credential within the timeframe established by the facility.

Physical and Work Requirements

· Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform repetitive food-preparation tasks.

· Ability to bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull items commonly used in kitchen operations, with reasonable accommodation as applicable.

· Ability to work safely around hot surfaces, sharp utensils, cleaning products, and commercial or residential kitchen equipment.

· Ability to maintain composure and use respectful, trauma-informed communication in a behavioral health residential environment.

Performance Expectations

The Cook is expected to demonstrate reliability, cleanliness, sound judgment, teamwork, respect for resident rights, and consistent compliance with facility policies. Employment duties may be adjusted based on resident needs, staffing, operational requirements, and applicable standards.

Pay: Up to $16.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person