Cook (On-Call) - NCSH Residential

Job Overview

North County Serenity House, A Program of HealthRIGHT 360 was founded in 1966 to provide substance use disorder services in the community. North County Serenity House provides a gender-responsive and trauma-informed environment, using evidence-based and best practices that recognize and account for the role that trauma frequently plays in substance use and criminal histories of women. For clients with co-occurring mental illness, we provide integrated substance use and mental health services which treat both conditions as primary. Our residential facility serves up to 120 women (with capacity for up to 20 children under 5 years of age) seeking recovery from substance use disorders. 

The On-Call Cook works collaboratively with the Facility Food Service team to execute production menus, meal preparation, and client training with basic culinary and multitasking skills. The On-Call Cook will assist with receiving deliveries, cooking meals, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner and preparing 3 snacks per day to provide meal services to a challenged population in a residential substance abuse treatment center. The On-Call Cook will be responsible for maintaining sufficient food supplies for the facility consistent with the facility's quality/budgetary objectives, in addition to assisting in providing cooking and food preparation education to clients, monitoring of clients as they assist with meal preparation and clean up, and/or attend staff meetings and provide feedback regarding clients in relation to their work in the kitchen or in meeting their dietary needs. The On-Call Cook may be requested to provide services as soon as the same day to ensure that meal services are uninterrupted and client needs are being met.  The On-Call Cook must maintain a hands-on approach for preparation and meal execution, maintaining diverse menu options based on the population. Additionally, the On-Call Cook must also be able to delegate and teach while cooking and meet meal schedules to ensure appropriate life skill learning opportunities for the clients. They also must ensure safety of food handling practices, proper sanitation, utilization of the FIFO method and more. The Cook may also assist in reconciling invoices. 

Key Responsibilities

  • Flexibility, reliability, and dependability is a must for the On-Call Cook to ensure that all meals are covered, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 3 snacks, and must be able to cover any gaps in meal services in very short or little notice.
  • Ensure meals are well-balanced, nutritious, and appealing, in addition to being able to reduce unnecessary costs whenever possible and being creative on diverse menu options while also being able to follow a production menu.
  • The ability to order food online with set criteria. 
  • Prepares food for residents and special diet requests, along with preparing food for special events. 
  • Drive vehicle to transport food, meals, and other supplies between facilities at times.
  • Must be compassionate about food and people and advise on possible improvements in efficiency, productivity, etc. 
  • Manage food storage, proper temperatures, refrigeration, and inventory control.
  • Maintains professional safety standards, cleanliness, and sanitation in accordance with health and safety codes, along with ensuring that equipment are serviced and repaired in a timely manner, while notifying supervisor of equipment needs. 
  • Responsible for making sure that all kitchen client workers are educated and familiar with agency and departmental policies, procedures, and practices, and are aware of safe food handling, cooking methods, nutrition, hygiene, equipment handling, and clean up.
  • Works as a team with Food Service staff and communicates with treatment team staff regarding clients' duties and abilities to perform work in the kitchen, along with performing other functions that support the department and agency needs. 

Education and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Must be dependable, flexible, and willing to come in on very short notice to cover any gaps in meal services for the program 
  • Culinary Certificate or 2 years of experience working in a commercial kitchen
  • Knowledge of food preparation
  • Food handling and preparation certificate
  • Familiarity with tools, equipment, cooking methods, creativity, and techniques
  • Experience in providing directions to others in the kitchen regarding food preparation, safety, and hygiene
  • Must be a team-player, initiative-taker, and demonstrate excellent communication skills
  • Able to work collaboratively with others and with a diverse population
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Related Agency

North County Serenity House

North County Serenity House provides a gender-responsive and trauma-informed environment, using evidence-based and best practices that recognize and account for the role that trauma frequently plays in the lives of the women we serve.

Find out More
HealthRIGHT 360

HealthRIGHT 360 gives hope, builds health, and changes lives for people in need by providing comprehensive, integrated, compassionate care that includes primary medical care, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment.

Find out More
Compensation: TBD
Type: Hourly/ Non-exempt
Agency: North County Serenity House, HealthRIGHT 360
Benefits: HealthRIGHT 360 offers a competitive benefits package.
City: Escondido, CA

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