Food Service Officer, Correction

The Mission of the Idaho Department of Correction is to protect the public, our staff and those within our custody and supervision through safety, accountability, partnerships and providing opportunities for offender change

Please note changes have been made to this exam to include the standards required for the Department’s compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003. You must complete both exams attached to this announcement to be considered for this position.

Food Service Officers monitor, instruct, and supervise offenders in food preparation, service, safety, and sanitation processes at State Correctional facilities.

This announcement will be used to fill a current vacancy at Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCC). It may also be used to fill future full time, part time or temporary vacancies in Boise or surrounding areas that occur within the next six (6) months at any other South Boise facilities. Open Competitive, Department Promotional or Statewide Promotional hiring lists may be created from this announcement to fill this and future vacancies. If you are a new applicant or wish to promote to the Food Service Officer position, you must apply under this announcement. This classification requires Peace Officer Standards and Training Certification (POST) after hire. Click on “Preview Exam” below to view minimum qualifications for POST certification.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the production of quality and cost-effective meals and ensure they are prepared and served in a clean and secure environment
• Train inmates in food preparation, kitchen sanitation and safety, and the use of related equipment
• Oversee food preparation using identified ingredients
• Ensure designated policies and procedures and department menus are followed
• Direct cooks and bakers regarding quantities and preparation methods
• Monitor inventory and order food, utensils, cleaning supplies and related items
• Ensure equipment is cleaned and maintained properly
• Inspect shipments for damaged products
• May interview, hire, evaluate the performance and make retention recommendations of inmates working at the facility

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• No hearing, sight or physical limitations that would prevent the performance of duties.
• Meet POST Physical Agility Requirements to include:
• Run/Jog/Walk 880 Yards in 8 minutes or less
• Lift 50 pound object and carry it 20 feet
• Stoop down repeatedly to unlock a lockbox with a key
• Head first on your back under a 24” barrier
• Climb a ladder go through a hatch and go back down

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience preparing and serving food in a restaurant or food service operation
• Meet the entrance requirements established by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy for Correctional Officers.
• Off felony or misdemeanor probation for at least the last 12 months
• Eligible to own/possess or receive a firearm under the provisions of state or federal law
• Age 21 or older
• Some knowledge of supervision Experience in the use and care of cooking utensils and equipment
• Experience using a computer for creating documents and collecting and inputting data

AND

WILLINGNESS TO:

• Participate in training to learn and develop techniques and skills required of a food service officer
• Work in the high-stress and hostile environment of a correctional institution
• Deal with inmate harassment, threats, and verbal abuse
• Deal with violence, break up fights, and assist in controlling disturbances
• Conduct a thorough body search of inmates, visitors, or other suspects for contraband and weapons
• Work alone and unarmed to guard and supervise the activities of unrestrained adult inmates when necessary
• Perform routine searches of kitchen areas for contraband
• Take instruction and follow Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) policies, procedures and rules
• Participate in investigations, write inmate incident reports, and give testimony in court
• Work any shift including day, swing, and graveyard
• Work weekends, holidays, and overtime
• Set aside any personal prejudices and be fair in dealing with inmates Refrain from the use and possession of any tobacco products during working hours and while on Department of Correction property

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Some knowledge of sanitation and safety practices used in food handling and preparation
• Experience documenting plate and meal counts, monitoring food temperatures, processing and recording inventory, and creating reports
• Experience distributing equipment and/or supplies in a food service operation
• Ability to speak Spanish and English fluently

HIRING INFORMATION:

To be hired, candidates will have a history and background supportive of Department mission goals and hiring will be subject to:

• Completing a Background Investigation Questionnaire and Passing a pre-employment drug test
• Completing a federal and state criminal background check (including fingerprints)
• Having a history of law-abiding behavior
• Felonies, misdemeanors, illegal drug usage, DUIs, adverse driving convictions and employment history may make you ineligible for employment

Non-hiring restrictions are in place for candidates who:

• Have been convicted of Domestic Violence or similar types of violent behaviors
• Have a dishonorable discharge from military service
• Currently are using, dealing or are associated with illegal drugs
• Have close friends or relatives under IDOC care & custody where the vacancy exists
• Are currently under IDOC supervision or probation (must be released from IDOC supervision or probation for at least one

EXAMINATION:

The exam is a checklist combined with narrative questions that are a rating of your training and experience. You will receive a score based on your responses. You must receive a minimum rating of 56 . Your final test score will be available online once your exam is scored .

PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA)

In compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003, we are required to obtain certain information in the exam/interview process and consider specific information when making hiring and selection decisions for positions that have contact with inmates “in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution…” The PREA Standards do not require we obtain this information for positions not within a correctional facility such as Probation & Parole and Central Office positions. Again, these changes are being implemented in order for the department to the meet the requirement of PREA standards. The PREA definitions of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment are available on the IDOC website. For more information about PREA, visit http://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act-prea .

For more detailed information regarding the requirements of this position please click on ” Preview Exam ” below. You will not be able to take the exam from this screen.

TO APPLY:

Click on any Apply Online button to the left and follow the instructions provided to complete the Application Checklist and Exam for this position.

When updating your online application information, please select/add:

• Department of Correction under “Agencies”
• Full-time under “Job Type/Shift”
• Boise and/or surrounding areas under “Cities”

Without this information, your name cannot be referred to the hiring agency. You must complete all items in the Application Checklist under General Information and Optional Information. This includes: Personal Information, Education, Work History, Cities, Agencies, Job Type/Shift, Skills, and Customized Resume.

CHOOSE A CAREER WITH US!

For more information on the Idaho Department of Correction visit www.idoc.idaho.gov and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/idoc.alert . For State of Idaho employee benefit information click on the link following the Salary range above where it says “Plus Competitive Benefits!”

Thank you for your interest in employment with Idaho Department of Correction! Standards require that we obtain certain information in the exam/interview process and consider specific information when making hiring and selection decisions for positions that have contact with inmates “in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution…”

Preview Exam

OVERTIME NOTICE:

At the discretion of the appointing authority, compensatory time off may be provided in lieu of overtime cash compensation.

Hiring is done without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. In addition, preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations. If you need special accommodations to satisfy testing requirements, please contact the Division of Human Resources.