Food Service Worker - LaSalle County Nursing Home

Healthcare Food Service Worker – Serve with Compassion!   Do you enjoy helping others and want a job that supports health and healing in your community? Join our healthcare nutrition team as a Food Service Worker and play a vital role in providing comforting, nutritious meals to patients, visitors, and staff—every day of the week!   What You’ll Do: * Prepare, portion, and serve meals according to dietary guidelines * Deliver meals to patients and assist with basic meal service needs * Set up, clean, and maintain kitchen and serving areas * Follow strict food safety and sanitation protocols * Contribute to a friendly, supportive mealtime atmosphere Why This Job Matters: * Help nourish patients and support their recovery * Be part of a compassionate, professional team * Flexible shifts – includes nights and weekends, but no late nights * On-the-job training – no experience necessary * Make a meaningful impact every shift We’re Looking For: * A caring, team-focused attitude * Reliability and attention to detail * Willingness to learn healthcare food safety procedures * Comfort working around patients and healthcare staff Why Join Us?  * Competitive pay + opportunities for growth  * Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, vision, and retirement  * Paid time off   About Us: At Whitsons we understand that meals are more than just nutrition—they’re a part of the healing process. Our food service team works hard to bring comfort and care to every tray we serve. If you’re looking for a job where your work truly matters, we’d love to meet you.   Apply today and help serve health and hope—at Whitsons our mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™.   Pay Rate: $16/hour   Qualifications REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES  Education  * Must complete all Whitsons and government-mandated training as required.    Experience  * Minimum 1 year of professional food service experience preferred; school nutrition or institutional food service experience also preferred.    Certifications  * ServSafe certification preferred but not required.    Other Qualifications  * Ability to speak and read English sufficient to understand and perform job assignments, follow recipes, and comply with safety requirements.  * Always presents a positive and professional image; ability to work effectively as part of a food service team in a fast-paced kitchen environment.     Core Competencies  * Food Safety & Compliance: Consistently follows food safety, sanitation, and applicable regulatory standards; maintains accurate logs and documentation and complies with all Whitsons policies at all times.  * Execution & Reliability: Completes assigned food preparation, service, guest service, and sanitation tasks accurately and on time; follows portion and production standards to ensure consistent, high-quality meal service every shift.  * Attention to Detail: Demonstrates care in portioning, temperature monitoring, order accuracy, station setup, and recordkeeping; ensures every station is stocked, clean, and properly maintained throughout the service day.  * Guest & Customer Focus: Welcomes and serves guests in a friendly and professional manner, offering informed menu recommendations, including guidance on allergies and dietary restrictions; takes pride in the quality and presentation of every meal and maintains a welcoming, clean dining area.  * Teamwork: Works cooperatively with the Chef Manager, Lead Cook, kitchen staff, and fellow food service and dining room workers; contributes to a positive, productive environment and supports the team’s daily service goals.  * Communication: Relays orders and guest requests to the kitchen clearly and accurately; communicates dietary restrictions, allergies, and special requests to the appropriate team members to ensure guest safety and satisfaction.  * Professionalism: Arrives on time, follows assigned schedules and break rotations, maintains proper dress and hygiene standards, and consistently presents a positive image on behalf of Whitsons.     WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILS  Expected Hours of Work  The food service worker position is either a part-time or full-time non-exempt position. Days and hours of work are aligned with the facility’s food service schedule. Occasional extended hours may be required in support of special events or operational needs.    Travel Requirements  This position is primarily site-based. Occasional travel to other locations may be required for substitute coverage or support.    Physical Demands of the Job  The Team Member is required to stand on their feet for the majority of the workday; frequently walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to handle food, tools, and equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, including while turning side to side. Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment. Movement in and out of storerooms and near freezers is regularly required. Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions    Work Environment  This position operates primarily in a kitchen and food service production environment. Standing is required for the majority of the workday. The noise level is moderate to loud during meal service periods.     The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, and Whitsons reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties.