Food Service Worker I (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: DK61
Class Code: 2198
Established: 07/06/2000
Revised: --
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under supervision, in a State developmental center, hospital, or correctional facility contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services, as assigned, to serve or assist with the preparation of foods and beverages; to clean and maintain food service equipment, utensils, and work areas; as required, to instruct and work with helpers from the resident population, which includes developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; may instruct, lead, or supervise forensic clients, patients, or inmates; and to do other related work.
Job Characteristics
Employees in the class of Food Services Worker I (Safety) normally are assigned either (1) to help the cooking staff in the kitchen; or (2)�to serve food in a dining area. A Food Service Worker I (Safety) may be required to do work of either type of assignment, incidental to his/her main assignment. Food is generally served at tables, cafeteria style, or by trays in hospital wards. In kitchen areas, employees perform the routine work of preparing food for cooking and of cleaning and maintaining equipment, utensils, and supplies. A Food Service Worker I (Safety) may instruct and work with a group of helpers from the resident population, which includes mentally or developmentally disordered offenders.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from the Food Service Worker I by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client, patient, or inmate population and the security features of the facility.
Typical Tasks
In serving of foods and beverages, arranges dining room furniture; sets tables; receives and serves food from kitchen; clears tables after meals; cares for table linen; and as required, assists in food preparation and related work in the kitchen.
In the preparing of foods and beverages, washes, pares, and generally prepares fruits and vegetables for cooking; assists in preparing and dispensing food; relieves cooks, bakers, or meat cutters by performing routine operations such as stirring food, greasing bake pans, and grinding meat; and as required, assists in food service and related work in the dining room.
In both the serving and preparing of foods and beverages, operates dishwashing machines, glass washers, and other culinary equipment; cleans and maintains utensils, equipment, and work areas; loads, transports, stores, and delivers food, supplies, and equipment; maintains food at correct temperature at cafeteria serving counters; serves orders; performs miscellaneous pantry work; on a ward, may do such unskilled cooking tasks as cutting and toasting bread, preparing eggnog, mixing batter, and frying pancakes; may instruct and work with helpers from the resident population, which includes developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; keeps records; and observes and intervenes in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior.
Assists staff in the counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; and observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Six months of experience in an institution, hotel, or restaurant, either serving, cleaning food service areas, or assisting with the preparation and service of foods and beverages. (Completion of the eighth grade may be substituted for the required experience.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Methods of cleaning and preparing foods for cooking and storing; proper methods of arranging dining room furniture, setting tables, and serving meals; various types of food service utensils and equipment and their uses; methods of cleaning and maintaining food service areas, utensils, and equipment; sanitation and safety measures in food service areas; general pantry work.
Ability to: Portion servings; follow directions and keep simple records; read and write at a level appropriate to the classification.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work at developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders and the willingness to work with them; personal cleanliness; good sense of smell and taste; freedom from communicable diseases; tact; patience; and emotional stability.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.
