Interim Dining Services Manager

from our chief executive officer

Linda Crandall, RD, LD

Over the past 55+ years

I have loved working in the senior living industry, even during difficult times. Yes, we are in the midst of difficult times right now, but I have always been an optimist who believes in working through the challenges. Many times, I needed help from others to overcome these obstacles. I often wished I had someone I could rely on to get the job done. To this end, I would like to introduce the Interim Dining Services Manager program.

We have created this unique service to provide communities with the temporary kitchen leadership they need to get through a variety of staffing challenges. I invite you to learn more about this wonderful program by reading through this flipbook to discover how we’ve been able to help other communities regain control of their kitchens. Then give us a call to discuss your current needs. I promise you will not regret it!

What is an IDSM?

Staffing shortages are a very real challenge in the senior living industry. Staying true to our mission to deliver unsurpassed services, Crandall is providing Interim Dining Support. Our expert dining service managers provide hands-on support, guidance and oversight to help a community manage through the workforce crisis.

Our expertsindustryare here to help...

When should you consider a Crandall

IDSM?

n You hired a highly qualified Dining Service Director (DSD), but they can’t start for three weeks, leaving you with a gap to fill.

n You suddenly find yourself without a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) and need support during the recruiting and onboarding process.

n Your new DSD is from the hospitality industry and brand new to senior living. They need training and mentoring.

n Your new DSD just missed passing the CDM exam, leaving you out of compliance with survey just around the corner.

n Due to staffing shortages, your DSD/CDM is spending most of their time filling open shifts. They need support fulfilling their other duties.

n Due to illness or an emergency, you find out your DSD/CDM will be out for a few weeks.

n You have not been able to fill the DSD/CDM spot no matter how hard you look. Your head cook is making a valiant effort, but certain activities are falling through the cracks.

“Crandall’s Interim Dining Services Manager (IDSM) program has been an integral resource as we navigate through the current complexities of the senior living industry. Whether it be managing through the workforce crisis, survey preparedness, support, and response or onboarding incoming dining service directors and certified dietary managers, Crandall’s IDSMs have been vital to our communities. The IDSMs we have worked with are well-trained, experienced, and committed senior living dining service professionals. Their services are not just temporary manager service, it is a true partnership in which the actions, follow-up and customer support provided verify they have their customer’s best interest at heart.”

Stephanie Talley, RN, RAC-CT Vice President of Clinical Services CCRC Division Brookdale Senior Living

Not Just Temp Coverage a roadmap to success

Crandall’s Interim Dining Support is much more than just a temporary staffing solution. Not only will Crandall’s IDSM keep the dining operation running smoothly, but they will also be tasked with conducting quality assurance audits— detailed reports, metrics, findings, and recommendations—that provide a roadmap

for the community to continue moving forward successfully upon completion of the temporary coverage. In addition, the IDSM will work with community leaders to plug budget leaks and identify opportunities for savings. Finally, Crandall is able to provide training and onboarding services when a new manager is hired.

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Qualified CDMs and DSDs

Crandall’s Interim Dining Services Managers are industry experts who are well-versed in multiple care settings, including LTC, Assisted Living, Memory Care, or CCRC. They are knowledgeable of kitchen management operations, culinary, therapeutic and texture-modified diets, and are able to perform appropriate clinical duties in an LTC or SNF setting. Our team consists of Certified Executive Chefs, Diet Techs, Registered and Certified Dietary Managers, giving us the ability to match the ideal support individual to your community’s specific needs.

“Thank you! Your CDM is functioning the way a true CDM should be.” Satisfied user of InterimCrandall’sSupport

“During a time of significant staffing shortages in our dining department, we contacted Crandall Corporate Dietitians for support. They were able to send one of their Interim Dining Service Managers to help fulfil the managerial duties. In addition, the IDSM stepped in to fill vacant cooking shifts and helped support the dietary aid and dishwashing positions. Although the IDSM was scheduled to be off on Thanksgiving Day, he exceeded expectations by working alongside the team that day to ensure our residents and guests had a delicious holiday meal and dining experience. By utilizing IDSM support, we were able to bridge the gap between Dining Service Directors, support the existing dining staff to help avoid burnout, and ensure our residents dining program did not decline during this time.”

Geoffrey Rauch Executive Director, Mi Casa Nursing Center

Training & Support Scenarios

An administrator reached out to their Crandall Dietitian. They needed immediate support due to their Dining Service Director going on FMLA. There was a cook at the community who was able to help perform some of the basic Dining Service Director responsibilities, but needed additional training on ordering processes, budget management, and managing the menus. The community wasn’t in need of a long-term assignment but rather just needed a few days of training to provide the cook with the tools needed to maintain the operation until the Dining Service Director returned from FMLA. Crandall was able to quickly fulfill their need and sent an IDSM to their community who provided 16 hours of hands-on training. The IDSM also partnered with the Crandall Dietitian on the areas to monitor and provide additional support during their routine consultant visits.

“just needed a few days...”

A CCRC community was seeking a CDM for a long-term assignment as both their full-time Dining Service Director and SNF Certified Dietary Manager positions were vacant. The community operates in a state that requires a unique training certification for individuals who are in dining management positions. Because of Crandall’s national presence and knowledge of various state requirements, they had an IDSM ready to go that already met this requirement. The IDSM was contracted for four, 3-week cycle assignments providing 12 weeks of coverage for the community, during which the community was also in their survey window. The Executive Director stated he had peace of mind knowing they had a Crandall IDSM in place.

“he had peace of mind...”

“so pleased with support...”

A SNF community had an emergency when a major pipe broke in their kitchen causing the kitchen to be without water for several days. This situation had to be reported to the state regulatory agency. The community had just onboarded a new Dining Service Director, but they needed additional support to manage dining operations until access to water was regained and a revisit from the surveyors was completed. Crandall was able to send an IDSM to assist within one day of the request. The community was so pleased with the support provided, they requested an additional week of support and training from the IDSM.

An Assisted Living community hired a new Dining Service Director who had experience in commercial restaurants but was new to the Senior Living Industry. The corporate leadership reached out to Crandall for IDSM support to provide extensive training with therapeutic and texture modified diet production, kitchen operation management, assisted living regulations, dining room operations, menu creation and food production operations. The corporation found the service so valuable, they arranged for the Crandall IDSM to travel to another state and train a new DSD at one of their sister communities.

“service so valuable...”

“requested a return visit...”

A company leader, who had previously worked with Crandall Corporate Dietitians, called the CEO inquiring if Crandall provided temporary dining management coverage. They had a long term care community that hired a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) but the individual’s start date was 30 days out. The community was in the survey window and wanted a CDM on staff during the vacancy to ensure compliance. Crandall was able to provide an Interim Dining Service Manager for a month. The community was so impressed with the coverage, they requested a return visit to train and onboard their new manager.

The Crandall Difference

1 Most experienced in the industry. We’re not a staffing company with warm bodies. Crandall is the nation’s largest consulting dietitian firm. We know senior dining.

2 We get up to speed quickly. For Crandall customers, we know your policies, procedures, leadership and approaches.

3 Access to the Crandall office. Not only do we consistently touch base with community and corporate leadership during active IDSM assignments, but we also follow-up post assignment to help support ongoing success.

4 We tackle a variety of issues. Our IDSM’s can tackle challenges related to staffing, regulatory compliance, systemic problems, operational breakdowns, etc.

5 We support your staff. Our IDSMs help reduce turnover while increasing retention of DSDs, CDMs, DTRs, and other dining staff, saving you money in the long run.

Contracting for an IDSM

Contracting with Crandall for an Interim Dining Services Manager is simple and straight forward. Managers are billed by the hour, with rates varying a little depending on geography. Travel time is billed at half the hourly rate while overtime is billed at time and a half. All travel expenses are billed at actual cost with no markup. Mileage is at the latest IRS published rate.

Our full-time travel department is adept at keeping costs under control. They will work with you to determine the best local accommodations. Invoices are submitted weekly and are net fourteen days. Discounts may be available for long term projects or contracting for multiple communities.

Crandall covers all other costs such as applicable licenses, training, drug testing, COVID testing, etc. When a Crandall IDSM shows up to your community, they’re ready to work.

Contact Theresa Arguello-Thomas at targuello@consultingrd.com or (480) 835-7072 to learn more and to get started.