Part-time Cook

JOB DESCRIPTION – PART-TIME COOK

Location: Smiths Falls, Ontario
Position: Part-Time Cook
Department: Food & Beverage / Dining Services
Employment Status: Part-Time
Reports To: Food & Beverage Manager / General Manager

Position Summary:

Van Horne Manor Retirement Residence is committed to providing our residents with a warm, welcoming home and a high standard of service and care.

The Part-Time Cook is responsible for preparing and serving nutritious, appetizing, and well-presented meals for our residents while maintaining high standards of food safety, cleanliness, organization, and resident service.

The Cook is an important member of the Van Horne Manor team. Meals are an important part of our residents' daily lives, and we expect every meal to be prepared with care, consistency, attention to detail, and respect for our residents' individual needs and preferences.

Key Responsibilities:

Food Preparation & Cooking:

• Prepare and cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and other menu items according to the scheduled shift.
• Follow established menus, recipes, portion sizes, and preparation procedures.
• Ensure meals are prepared and served on time and at the appropriate temperature.
• Maintain consistency in food quality, taste, appearance, and portioning.
• Prepare meals according to residents' dietary requirements, allergies, modified textures, and special diets as directed.
• Ensure appropriate substitutions are provided when required.
• Minimize food waste through appropriate preparation, portion control, storage, and use of ingredients.
• Ensure food presentation is attractive and appropriate for our residents.

Resident Dining Experience:

• Contribute to a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience for all residents.
• Treat residents with patience, dignity, courtesy, and respect at all times.
• Be attentive to reasonable resident preferences and requests.
• Take resident comments and feedback regarding meals seriously and communicate concerns or suggestions to management.
• Recognize that food quality and dining service are important components of resident satisfaction and quality of life.

Food Safety & Sanitation:

• Follow all applicable food safety, sanitation, infection prevention, occupational health and safety, and company requirements.
• Follow proper procedures for food preparation, handling, cooking, cooling, reheating, and storage.
• Monitor and record food temperatures as required.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized kitchen at all times.
• Ensure refrigerators, freezers, storage areas, preparation surfaces, equipment, and utensils are maintained appropriately.
• Ensure food is properly labelled, dated, covered, stored, and rotated.
• Follow appropriate procedures for preventing cross-contamination and managing food allergies.
• Complete required food safety, temperature, cleaning, and sanitation records accurately.
• Immediately report food safety concerns, equipment malfunctions, spills, hazards, pest concerns, or other unsafe conditions.

Kitchen Operations & Inventory:

• Review upcoming menus and ensure required ingredients and supplies are available.
• Assist with receiving, checking, and properly storing food deliveries and kitchen supplies as required.
• Monitor inventory levels and inform the appropriate manager when products or supplies need to be ordered.
• Use kitchen equipment safely and only for its intended purpose.
• Maintain clean and organized dry-storage, refrigerator, freezer, and food-preparation areas.
• Complete opening and closing duties according to established procedures.
• Assist with dishwashing, cleaning, and other kitchen duties when operationally required.

Teamwork & Communication:

• Work cooperatively with Food & Beverage staff, servers, nursing/care staff, housekeeping, maintenance, management, and other departments.
• Communicate important dietary, resident, food-service, or operational information to the appropriate staff.
• Provide an effective handover to the next shift where necessary.
• Assist other team members during busy periods to ensure meals are prepared and served on schedule.
• Maintain professional and respectful communication with residents, families, coworkers, suppliers, and visitors.
• Attend required staff meetings and training sessions.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Previous cooking experience in a retirement residence, long-term care facility, healthcare environment, institutional kitchen, restaurant, or similar setting is preferred.
• Experience preparing meals for seniors is considered an asset.
• Valid Food Handler Certification or willingness to obtain certification as required.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.
• Knowledge of special diets, allergies, food sensitivities, and texture-modified diets is considered an asset.
• Ability to follow established menus, recipes, portion standards, and written instructions.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be dependable, punctual, professional, and resident-focused.

Physical Requirements:

The position requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods during a shift.
• Bend, reach, lift, carry, push, and pull as reasonably required for kitchen duties.
• Safely work around hot surfaces, ovens, cooking equipment, knives, and other kitchen equipment.
• Lift and carry food products, supplies, pots, pans, and other kitchen items within reasonable occupational limits.
• Perform repetitive food preparation and kitchen tasks.

Scheduling & Availability:

This is a part-time position. Shifts will be scheduled according to the operational requirements of Van Horne Manor Retirement Residence.

The employee may be required to work:

• Weekdays and weekends.
• Morning and/or evening shifts.
• Statutory holidays.
• Additional shifts for vacation, sick leave, or other staff coverage when available.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality are essential requirements of this position.
• Employees are expected to report for scheduled shifts on time and follow established procedures regarding absences, lateness, and requests for schedule changes.

Employment Requirements:

As a condition of employment, the successful candidate may be required to provide and maintain:

• A satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check.
• Appropriate TB/health clearance as required by Van Horne Manor Retirement Residence.
• Valid Food Handler Certification.
• Completion of mandatory orientation and training.
• Any additional documentation or certification required by company policy or applicable legislation.
• Professional & Resident-Care Expectations
• Every employee of Van Horne Manor Retirement Residence contributes to the comfort, safety, dignity, and quality of life of our residents.

The Part-Time Cook is therefore expected to demonstrate:

• Respect and compassion toward residents.
• Professional conduct and appropriate workplace behaviour.
• High standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
• Respect for resident privacy and confidentiality.
• Cooperation and teamwork with all departments.
• Responsible use of food, supplies, equipment, and company resources.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe and positive workplace.

General:

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities of the position but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. The employee may be assigned other reasonable duties consistent with the position and the operational needs of Van Horne Manor Retirement Residence.