Kitchen Staff

About the role

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property. CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.

Central State Hospital is recruiting for a Kitchen Staff Worker to become an essential member of our Food Services team. If you are dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to providing excellent customer service in a healthcare setting, we encourage you to apply. In this role, you will help ensure individuals receive nutritious, accurately prepared meals that meet their dietary needs while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, and infection control.

Responsibilities

The Kitchen Staff Worker plays a key role in meal preparation, portioning, tray assembly, packaging, and delivery, while supporting a clean, safe, and efficient kitchen operation. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day by contributing to the health, well-being, and quality of care provided to the individuals served at Central State Hospital.

Requirements

• Ability to perform manual labor and physical tasks, including bending, stooping, standing for extended periods, and lifting as required.
• Demonstrated ability to follow written and verbal instructions accurately.
• Demonstrated ability to perform sanitation duties, including cleaning floors, food service equipment, and other assigned work areas.
• Knowledge of food preparation techniques, sanitary practices, food safety standards, and applicable federal, state, and local food service regulations.
• Ability to work effectively in a maximum-security setting where personal communication devices, including but not limited to cell phones and smart watches, are prohibited.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a food service operation.
• Experience communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a maximum-security setting where personal communication devices, including but not limited to cell phones and smart watches, are prohibited.

Skills

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required to Successfully Perform the Job: Ability to perform manual labor and physical tasks, including bending, stooping, standing for extended periods, and lifting as required. Demonstrated ability to follow written and verbal instructions accurately. Demonstrated ability to perform sanitation duties, including cleaning floors, food service equipment, and other assigned work areas. Knowledge of food preparation techniques, sanitary practices, food safety standards, and applicable federal, state, and local food service regulations.

Benefits

DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $35,524.00 - $49,023.00, Pay Band: 1.

Schedule

Typical Schedule: This position operates on a rotating schedule. Typical shifts are approximately 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Shift assignments and work hours may vary based on departmental needs and are not guaranteed.