The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is currently accepting applications for permanent casual Cooks for Riverview Gardens Long-Term Care facility with the Seniors Services division.
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
- Should there be no applicants that hold the LCQC, applicants with 6000 hours of cooking experience will be considered. Successful candidates will be given six (6) months to confirm they meet the standards for challenging the LCQC exam established by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and meet the Regulations of the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021
- 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 Analysis"
- Bending: constant stooping (up to 4.55 kgs or 10 lbs) (food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines; proper receiving, storage and rotating of perishable and non-perishable food items; use of all institutional cooking and serving equipment; rationale ovens, steamers, soup kettles, gas ranges, ovens, utility carts, knives, institutional size mixers, slicers, etc.; use of cleaning and sanitizing equipment)
- Walking: frequent walking on level surface, balancing (up to 13.64 kgs or 30 lbs) (food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines)
- Reaching: frequent reaching forward; constant reaching below shoulder, handling (up to 13.64 kgs or 30 lbs) (food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines; completes food audits (portion control, taste panels, taking and recording temperatures of foods/refrigerators/freezers, waste management and inventory control; use of all institutional cooking and serving equipment; proper receiving, storage and rotating of perishable and non-perishable food items)
- Lifting: frequent lifting floor to waist, waist to shoulder, carrying, transferring, pushing below shoulder, pulling below shoulder (up to 34.64 kgs or 30 lbs) (food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines; proper receiving, storage and rotating of perishable and non-perishable food items; use of all institutional cooking and serving equipment; rationale ovens, steamers, soup kettles, gas ranges, ovens, utility carts, knives, institutional size mixers, slicers, etc.)
- Standing: constant standing (up to 4.55 kgs or 10 lbs) (food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines; long periods of sustained standing)
- Hands: constant fine finger dexterity (movement), gripping, pinching (up to 4.55 kgs or 10 lbs) (Food preparation, cooking and cleaning routines; completes food audits; use of all institutional cooking and serving equipment; written documentation and checklists; communication via email)
Benefits
This position will receive 15% in lieu of benefits and 4% vacation pay.
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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.
Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.
