Cook Career Profile
What is a Cook?
A Cook is a professional who prepares food from raw ingredients into meals using a variety of cooking methods. Cooks work in a variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care homes, personal care homes and private care facilities.
What is it like working as a Cook at the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)?
Working at the SHA, you will be responsible for preparing food for patients with varying dietary needs while following best practices in food safety. You may also be involved in the management of food inventories, staff training, and recipe and menu development. Cooking in a health-care setting really focuses on the needs of patients and the nourishment required for health and healing. Cooks work in shifts including early mornings, days, evenings and weekends depending on the needs of the site. There are also leadership opportunities to move into Head Cook positions or other management roles in Nutrition and Food Services. Overall, cooking in a health-care setting is very rewarding each and everyday.
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What can I earn as a Cook?
In addition to the pay bands below, Enhanced Dental and Health benefits and vacation packages are also included.
- Assistant Cook - $22.02 - $23.55
- Cook - $23.17 - $24.84
- Head Cook - $27.99 - $30.00
Cooks working with the SHA are unionized employees and may be a member of one of the following unions based on work location throughout the province:
How do I become a Cook?
To work as a Cook, you will require a Health Care Cook certificate or a Journeyperson certificate. There are many accredited courses that will help you achieve Journeyperson certification but the best option to fast track yourself to working as a Cook in the health-care sector is to take the following 39-week Health Care Cook Certificate program offered by Saskatchewan Polytechnic:
If you already have a Journeyperson Certificate, you are eligible to apply on job opportunities right away. Students who complete the Health Care Cook course are eligible to continue to work towards their Journeyperson Certificate through apprenticeship training with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).