Unqualified Food Service Director Lacks Required Certification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ a Food Service Director with the appropriate competencies, certifications, and skill sets required to manage the food and nutrition service. The Food Service Director, hired in March, did not possess certification as a dietary manager or food service manager, nor did she have an associate's or higher degree in food service management or hospitality. Her previous work experience was limited to medical records and central supply departments, with no prior dietary management experience. At the time of the survey, she had only recently enrolled in a national dietary certification course and had not yet obtained the necessary credentials. Interviews with facility leadership, including the Administrator and Human Resource Director, confirmed awareness of the regulatory requirement for the Food Service Director to be certified and acknowledged that the current director was not yet qualified. Review of the facility's job description and relevant federal food code regulations further substantiated that the position required specific education, training, and certification, which the current Food Service Director did not meet. This deficiency was identified during a review of the facility's compliance with dietary requirements.