Behavioral Health Cook

Job Description

Job Description

Behavioral Health Cook

Description

Gathering Hope House is seeking a dedicated mental health professional to serve as a Behavioral Health Generalist. This role is ideal for an individual who enjoys blending therapeutic engagement with culinary arts and values meaningful relationships with adults living with mental illness. The position involves working in the Hospitality Unit in the mornings: assisting members in meal preparation and food service.

Work Environment:

We operate within the Clubhouse model, a non-clinical, community-based approach to mental health that is fundamentally different from traditional service settings. This is not a role where you simply cook meals—staff work side-by-side with members. Yes, that means you get to witness first hand how learning to prepare a meal can impact one’s recovery journey. Staff are not supervisors or case managers; they are equal partners in a shared, work-ordered community. There are no “clients” here—only members who help run the organization. This model fosters genuine relationships, peer leadership, and an inclusive environment where everyone’s strengths are recognized, valued, and actively engaged.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide supportive mental health interventions through structured work-ordered day activities, including meal planning, preparation, and service.

• Engage members in therapeutic, skill-building interactions that promote socialization, independence, and recovery.

• Facilitate a safe, inclusive, and empowering kitchen environment that fosters creativity, dignity, and teamwork.

• Collaborate with members and staff to plan menus, order supplies, and maintain food safety standards.

• Support members in setting and achieving personal vocational, social, and wellness goals.

• Assist with documentation of member engagement, progress, and participation in line with program standards.

• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and ongoing Clubhouse programming.

• Participate in required CACFP and Second Harvest training.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED, Associates in Culinary.

• Experience working with adults diagnosed with mental illness or co-occurring disorders.

• Ability to build and maintain therapeutic relationships in a person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented environment.

• Experience in cooking; Willingness to obtain ServSafe certification

• Strong multitasking, organizational, and communication skills.

• Ability to model teamwork and self-initiative within a flexible, member-led environment.

• Competence in using basic computer programs and maintaining electronic documentation.

• Must pass a BCI/FBI background check prior to hire

• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. Minor violations may disqualify a candidate.

Equal Opportunity

Gathering Hope House is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and trauma-informed workplace. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences to apply.

Gathering Hope House is a community-based mental health organization operating under the Clubhouse model, offering a non-clinical, recovery-oriented environment for adults living with mental illness. Through shared work, inclusive programming, and peer partnerships, we foster independence, purpose, and belonging. Staff and members collaborate daily to run operations, build skills, and promote wellness. Our holistic approach integrates therapeutic engagement, vocational support, and social connection to create a dignified path toward recovery and reintegration.

Company Description

Gathering Hope House is a community-based mental health organization operating under the Clubhouse model, offering a non-clinical, recovery-oriented environment for adults living with mental illness. Through shared work, inclusive programming, and peer partnerships, we foster independence, purpose, and belonging. Staff and members collaborate daily to run operations, build skills, and promote wellness. Our holistic approach integrates therapeutic engagement, vocational support, and social connection to create a dignified path toward recovery and reintegration.