About the role
Description
The Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) under the Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking a qualified candidate to join its Food and Nutrition team for the position of full-time Cook II. The Food and Nutrition Department is responsible for preparing patient meals, including special and modified diets; Prepares baked goods and desserts; Operates kitchen equipment; Oversees production and tray line staff; Stores deliveries; Assists in quality control activities; Maintains a clean and safe work area.
Please Note: This is a full-time, 40-hour position. The schedule is as follows: 5:00 AM - 1:30 PM. The days off will be Tuesday & Wednesday.
Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):
- Cook foods in quantities according to menu and number of persons to be served, using standardized recipes and adjusting recipes as needed to produce required amounts.
- Modifies recipes as required for special and therapeutic diets, conferring with dietitians as necessary.
- Prepares meals for special functions.
- Evaluates food for quality, quantity, appearance, temperature, and taste through observation and tasting in order to determine if it is fresh, properly portioned, and prepared correctly.
- Prepares baked goods.
- Operates kitchen equipment, including ovens, stove, grill, steam kettles, blender, food processor, mixer, slicer, and grinder, to portion and prepare food for cooking and consumption.
- Places food orders, in absence of Food Service Supervisor, reviewing menu and checking inventory.
- Receives food orders and oversees storage.
- Maintains records such as requisitions, production sheets, and other required forms.
- Uses measuring utensils for recipe standardization and portion control.
- Oversees work and assigns KSWs.
- Maintains a safe and clean work area by complying with sanitation codes, assisting with receiving and storing of foods, participating in cleaning and maintenance activities, reporting malfunctioning equipment, and monitoring and completing temperature and sanitizing logs.
- Inspects work and storage areas for compliance with department protocols and sanitation codes.
- Provides on-the-job training for new cooks, and others as needed, to teach cooking skills and ensure compliance with safety, sanitary, and food preparation requirements.
- Assists tray-line/dining room as assigned, reading and interpreting diet cards.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency. Candidates must be able to read, write and otherwise communicate in English.
- ASL preferred.
About Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH):
Located on over 100 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) is part of an integrated network of effective, efficient and culturally competent mental health services. It provides intermediate and long-term inpatient care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who live in Massachusetts, as well as individuals requiring specialized court ordered evaluations.
WRCH provides inpatient services to 290 adults, inclusive of a Deaf Inpatient Mental Health Service, and 30 adolescents on the ACCU.
DMH Mission Statement:
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