Cooks Helper: Part Time

Join our senior living dining team! Assist with meal service, food prep, plating, and kitchen sanitation. Great team environment, flexible schedules, and opportunities to grow.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Cook’s Helper is a key member of the culinary team, responsible for the line service and accurate plate presentation of menu items for resident meal service. This role ensures food quality, proper portioning, and adherence to dietary guidelines while maintaining high standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen and service areas. Although limited cooking and prep work is required, the Cook’s Helper plays a vital role in ensuring smooth meal service, including replenishing items, proper use of ingredients, and timely communication with kitchen staff. Responsibilities also include cleaning of cooking equipment, floors, and refrigeration units, as well as ensuring all sanitation and safety protocols are followed, including proper food storage and temperature documentation.

Essential Functions/Duties:

• Serves menu items to residents as deemed by checks/selector tickets
• Uses proper utensils and portion control of menu items
• Properly follows special diets and small portion guidelines
• Follows SERV Safe procedures
• Ensures food quality by following proper plate presentation, portion sizes and maintains quality of food on serving line at all times
• Replenishes food items as needed and informs back up cook of needs in appropriate time frames
• Uses correct sauces, gravies and side dishes designated for menu items
• Knows menu and ingredients
• Ensures all food is served at proper temperatures and properly uses production sheets by recording leftovers and temperatures.
• Is able to follow time frames during meal service and keeps up with service during peak meal times.
• Wraps, labels dates and use by dates all items in reach-ins and serving line refrigerators.
• Sweeps and mops floor using proper techniques and ensures all work in done to meet established standards.
• Properly cleans all cooking equipment using proper personal protective equipment and correct cleaning agents.
• Properly clean hoods, follows sanitation checklists and ensures all work is completed to meet established standards.
• Ensure all opening and closing side work is accomplished following all sanitation procedures and guidelines.
• Knows the schedule and works the scheduled hours and days as assigned.
• Follows the time clock procedures by having one’s personal ID card, punching in and out at the correct times.
• Observes the attendance policy, avoids excessive absenteeism, and uses proper Paycom procedures for posting and switching shifts, in addition to getting manager approval.
• Reports deviations of schedule to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Keeps fellow staff members advised of changes in work orders or rules.
• Communicates openly and honestly with fellow staff members and supervisors.
• Keeps confidential information safe and not divulged to outside parties.
• Listens effectively to supervisors, residents and staff.
• Stays current with assigned training.
• Completes sanitation expectations for all areas.
• Participate in and complete all required ongoing training, including monthly online and in-person training, annual skills competencies education, and role-specific certifications, to ensure continued competence and adherence to organizational and regulatory standards.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Food Service & Safety: Knowledge of portion control, special diets, plate presentation, and SERV Safe sanitation procedures.
• Time Management: Ability to work efficiently during peak service times while maintaining food quality and presentation standards.
• Communication & Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills to coordinate with kitchen staff and follow supervisor instructions.
• Reliability & Professionalism: Consistent attendance, adherence to schedules, and compliance with facility policies and confidentiality standards.
• Physical Stamina & Attention to Detail: Able to stand for extended periods, perform cleaning tasks, and ensure accuracy in food temperatures, labeling, and record-keeping.

Core Values:

1. AMBASSADOR: Represents The Highlands at Wyomissing® in a positive light with integrity. Takes pride in our community.
2. COMMITMENT: Dedicated, adaptable, tolerant, dependable, focused, and passionate. Often does more than is required. Reports to work as scheduled and timely.
3. COMPASSIONATE: Is empathetic, mindful, and kind.
4. INNOVATIVE: Is curious. Identifies new methods and efficiencies.
5. RESULTS-DRIVEN: Has a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and completing work. Exerts unusual effort over time to achieve a goal. Maintains commitment to goals in the face of obstacles and frustrations.
6. TEAM ORIENTED: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to achieve common goals.

The Highlands’ Traditions (Customer Service Expectations):

1. SAFETY: Practices safe behaviors to ensure the safety of all.
2. KINDNESS: Projects a positive image and energy. Courteous and respectful to all. Goes above and beyond to exceed customer expectations.
3. SHOW: Takes pride in self-appearance. Stays in “character” and performs the “role in the show.” Ensures work area is show-ready.
4. EFFICIENCY: Performs role with consistency and efficiency. Uses time and resources wisely.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• This position is part-time in a health care facility that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED (Required or being pursued by high school student)
• 0-1 Year Prior Serving Experience in Food Service Industry
• Prior experience working with senior population (Preferred)
• SERV Safe Certification (Preferred)
• Completion of the Highlands Hearthstone Ambassador training within 30 days of employment (Required)

Work Authorization/Security Clearances:

• Medical Screening
• Criminal History Clearance
• FBI Fingerprint Clearance (Only required if you have not lived in PA for the last 2 years)
• Immigration and naturalization (I-9) Clearance

Physical Requirements and Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Visual acuity must be adequate to perform job duties, including reading information from printed sources and computer screens.
• This position is continuously required to walk, climb crouch, reach above shoulder, lift from waist level up, lift above shoulders/head, and lifting 25 lbs.
• This position is occasionally required to sit, bend, squat, crawl, kneel, balance, pull with force, push/push up to 350 lbs., lift from floor level up, lift 50 lbs. and lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 25 lbs.

Safety Hazards and Physical Environment:

• May be exposed to blood borne pathogens
• May be exposed to communicable diseases
• May be exposed to potential electrical shock
• May be exposed to extreme conditions, (i.e. heat or cold)
• May be exposed to high noise levels
• May be exposed to moving mechanical parts
• May be exposed to toxic, caustic, chemicals, and / or detergents
• May be exposed to rare occasions during which it is necessary to interact with a resident exhibiting aggressive behavior.