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Patient Service Lead

Advocate Health · Barrington, IL · $20.80–$31.20 an hour · Part time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to give a coworker feedback about their work quality or speed. How did that conversation go?

What they are checking: comfort with informal supervisory conversations before formal authority is involved

Tell me about a time you trained someone new on the line. What did you focus on first?

What they are checking: ability to break down tasks and transfer knowledge under real kitchen conditions

Tell me about a time a customer or patient complained about their food or service. What did you actually say to them?

What they are checking: customer service tone and de-escalation skill in a healthcare setting

Tell me about a time you had to make a decision on your own without checking with a supervisor first. What happened?

What they are checking: readiness to operate independently, since the role expects minimal oversight

This role covers early and late shifts, sometimes 5:30am and sometimes ending at 8:30pm. How do you keep the same energy and attitude with patients late in a long shift?

What they are checking: stamina and consistency of demeanor, since the posting stresses a 'friendly and cheerful' culture of healing

What would you do

Walk me through a day where you were leading the shift on the tray line and someone called in sick. What did you do first?

What they are checking: whether the candidate can prioritize staffing gaps without losing meal service timing

A nurse calls down upset because a patient tray had the wrong diet on it. How do you handle that in the moment and afterward?

What they are checking: how they balance urgency, patient safety, and clinical coordination with nursing

Describe a time a piece of equipment failed mid-shift. What did you do?

What they are checking: problem-solving and composure when service is at risk

How would you handle two staff members who don't get along and it's affecting the shift?

What they are checking: conflict resolution instincts and whether they escalate appropriately or avoid the issue

You're covering two roles at once, say a Food Ambassador shift plus overseeing the line, because someone didn't show up. How do you decide what gets your attention first?

What they are checking: self-direction and judgment under minimal supervision, which the posting explicitly requires

About the work

What do you know about modified diets, and how would you catch a mistake before a tray leaves the kitchen?

What they are checking: actual working knowledge of diet restrictions and quality-check habits, not just food prep skill

How do you forecast how much food to prepare for patient census and cafeteria service on a given day?

What they are checking: whether they've actually done production planning versus just executing someone else's numbers

What food safety and sanitation standards do you check for during a shift, and what would make you pull an item or shut down a station?

What they are checking: depth of practical sanitation knowledge, not just certification memory

What's your experience with food and drug interactions or allergens, and how have you handled an allergen concern before?

What they are checking: whether allergen safety knowledge is real and applied, given the patient population

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 11903 Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital - Food and Nutrition Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: No Hou rs Per Week: 0 Schedule Details/Additional Information: The position will require first and second shift availability. 5:30am-2:00pm and 12:00pm-8:30pm Pay Range: $20.80 - $31.20 Major Responsibilities: • Acts as a resource to employees and students, which includes training/orienting and providing day-to-day work direction. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work. Monitors productivity, maintains appropriate staffing levels, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues. • Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include interviewing and selection of new employees, staff development, resolution of employee concerns, and employee morale. Assists in interpreting department policies and procedures, and advises and updates staff on procedural changes. • Monitors general department operations, adjusts schedules, records essential information and ensures that work is completed in a timely manner. Conducts daily checks on employee staffing and makes adjustments/substitutes as necessary; assigns non-routine tasks and duties. • Provides work direction and guidance to designated food service staff and assigns tasks to provide efficient and timely service. Maintains a quality food production operation for internal and external customers. Assists in resolving issues, dealing with customer complaints, workflow, employee staffing, and equipment failures during the shift. • Acts as a resource person, works with employees to resolve problems, complex issues and provides training in food preparation, pre-serving/serving activities, recipe standardization, cashiering, infection control, fire safety, and cleanup activities. • Forecasts amount of required food for patients, cafeterias, and special functions; maintains records of meal census and food usage. • Capable of managing and responding to purchasing, tray-line, cafeteria, and/or special function requests. • Inspects equipment and work areas to ensure proper use, maintenance and sanitation standards and corrects deficiencies as required. • Utilizes established production safety and sanitation standards to ensure safe food handling techniques and prevent bacteria contamination. • May function as a Food Service Assistant or Food Ambassador which may include assembly and delivery of patient meals, dish room and cleaning duties, assisting patients, cash handling, balance sheets, food production, servicing cafeteria customers, preparing, serving and maintaining supplies of food, and utensils. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • ServSafe Food Handler certification issued by the National Restaurant Association needs to be obtained within 1 year. Education Required: • High School Graduate. Experience Required: • Typically requires 3 years of experience in food preparation, service techniques, cashiering and sanitation standards, general and modified diets, in a large hospital or hotel/restaurant food service environment. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Strong knowledge in food service from within a hospital, restaurant or a related environment. • Excellent customer service skills and communication skills to effectively interact with a variety of people. The ability to work in close cooperation with nursing personal is required. • Ability to read and understand written and oral communications. • Must be self directed, able to work independently and make decisions with minimal supervisor. • Ability to maintain a friendly and cheerful demeanor, reflecting the culture of healing. • Excellent phone etiquette. • Strong knowledge and understanding of food/drug interactions and food allergens. • Good organizational and time management skills. • Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office or similar products. Ability to use e-mail and internet. • Must be self-directed. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Operates equipment (i.e. dish-machine, tray line, garbage disposal, etc.) necessary to perform the job. Demonstrating ability to safely and effectively, utilize necessary power equipment. • Stands walks and reaches above shoulders the majority of the workday as well as squats, bends, twists, kneels and climbs throughout shift. • Must be able to: • lift up to 40 lbs. from floor to a maximum 5 ft. • lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 20 lbs. of force. • Working atmosphere also contains fumes, odors, and dust/dirt. floor, spices, etc. (Fumes are trucks, dust/dirt from storeroom or cleaning agents). • May be exposed to mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary. • May be required to enter patient isolation rooms wearing appropriate coverings during meal service tray delivery and pick up. • Will be exposed to sharp knives, other sharp cooking utensils, heat from ovens and other hazards in a kitchen environment. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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