Correctional Officer​/Youth Rehab Food Service Specialist

Recruitment Incentives

Sign‑On Bonus – $5,000 to new Cadets paid in installments.

NOTE: This program is administered by the Department of Correction Bureau of Administrative Services. The program may be terminated by the Department of Correction at any time with or without notice.

This class describes full performance cooking applying food service principles, practices and methods for food preparation activities and acquiring a working knowledge of correctional/youth security procedures and techniques.

Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

• Applies food service principles, practices and methods governing food preparation activities such as food handling, proper storage and temperature control, cleaning of kitchen equipment and utensils to comply with safety and sanitary standards.
• Instructs inmate food service workers in the operation of various commercial kitchen equipment such as dishwashers, ovens, toasters, meat slicers, choppers, deep fryers, food processors, steam pots, blenders, and mixers.
• Instructs inmates/youth food service workers in food preparation, cooking, safe food and storage handling.
• Supervises inmates/youths in their kitchen assignments, directing their activities and establishing a positive working relationship.
• Maintains a positive supportive relationship with youth/inmates food service workers through appropriate use of active listening skills in providing guidance as needed.
• Prepares and cooks meals.
• Maintains control of kitchen utensils, tools and equipment.
• Enforces rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the institution and the department in the maintenance of discipline, order, security and housekeeping of assigned locations and staff.
• Enforces personal hygiene rules for inmate/youth food service workers to maintain sanitary standards.
• Prepares various reports and maintains accurate records.
• Attends various Department approved training courses.

• Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Six months experience in institutional or commercial cooking and baking.
• Knowledge of proper safety, storage and sanitation standards for food items.
• Knowledge of narrative report writing.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).
• At least 19 1/2 years of age.

Selected incumbent’s annual base starting salary is $53,807. Upon successful completion of the Correctional Employee Initial Training (CEIT) course, and after being assigned to a facility, the salary will increase to $63,629.28. Additionally the incumbent will be eligible for a 5% shift differential if he/she works four or more hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Prior to institutional assignment, candidates must successfully complete all phases of an eleven‑week Correctional Officer Basic Course. This course is administered by the Department of Correction Steven R. Floyd Sr. Training Academy and includes physical, classroom and hands‑on training in inmate supervision, defensive tactics, riot control, weapons, report writing and emergency medical training.

Employees in a Correctional Officer (CO) series position will be eligible to retire under the provisions of HB363 if at the time of retirement they have completed twenty‑five (25) years of pension creditable State service, and with at least twenty (20) of those years of pension creditable service as a CO series classified position.

The Correctional Employee Initial Training (CEIT) program is approved by the Veterans Administration of Delaware State Approving Authority for the training of Veterans.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E‑Verify system where each new hire’s Form I‑9 information is provided to confirm authorization to work in the U.S.

DOC:
For admission to the Dept. of Correction Academy, applicants who receive a conditional offer must successfully complete a criminal…