Registered Dietician (Healthy Aging Coordinator)

The Dane County Human Services Department has a full-time (1.0 FTE) vacancy for a Registered Dietician within the Area Agency on Aging Program in Madison, WI.

The Eligibility List created will be used to fill future vacancies of the same classification over the next six (6) months. All are encouraged to apply.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

DEFINITION

Department of Human Services - Area Agency on Aging: Under general supervision of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Manager, the Registered Dietitian is responsible for ensuring Dane County meets federally mandated program rules and achieves the goals and objectives of the Dane County Older Americans Act (OAA) Senior Nutrition and Healthy Aging Programs offered in the community. Through dietary analysis, nutrition counseling, safety and sanitation monitoring, assists older adults to reduce nutrition risk and to improve malnutrition. Through oversight of volunteer instructors, ensures older adults reduce falls and improve management of chronic conditions through diet and evidence-based healthy aging programs. Badger Prairie Health Care Center: Under general supervision, complete nutritional assessments, develop nutritional care plans, complete the Mobility Diet Score (MDS), follow the Resident Assessment Protocols (RAPs) and participate in interdisciplinary staffing. Determine if the care plan is evaluated timely based on the response, outcome and needs of residents/clients. Perform other assigned duties.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Department of Human Services - Area Agency on Aging: Provide operational support for the Older American Act Senior Nutrition program in Dane county; through dietary analysis, nutrition counseling, safety and sanitation monitoring, assists older adults to reduce nutrition risk and to improve malnutrition; through oversight of volunteer instructors, ensures older adults reduce falls and improve management of chronic conditions through diet and evidence-based healthy aging programs.

Badger Prairie Health Care Center: Assess nutritional status of resident pursuant to initial, quarterly, annual or change of condition MDS. Identify risk factors which may lead to avoidable dehydration or weight loss problems. Review the interdisciplinary care plan for adequacy of response, outcome and needs of the resident in reference to their therapeutic die. Recommend appropriate action to improve the nutritional status of each resident. Review weekly resident weight data from the six clinical units. Review nutritional care policies and protocols on an annual basis and make recommendations for change. Conduct nutritional educational classes for resident groups to enhance their understanding of normal, healthy nutritional patterns.

Education, Training and Experience:

Any combination of education, training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Dietetics or Nutrition Science, and the following years of experience and certifications mentioned below for the different units/divisions.

For Badger Prairie Health Care Center Registered Dietitian position: Must have at least one (1) year of experience in a nursing home. Must be a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association (ADA), currently licensed and in good standing in the State of Wisconsin.

For the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Registered Dietician position: Must have at least one (1) year of experience in geriatric nutrition counseling. ServSafe certification by the State of WI is required. Must possess a thorough working knowledge of the Older Americans Act Senior Nutrition Program. Must be a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association (ADA), currently licensed and in good standing in the State of Wisconsin.

Certification/Licenses:

Must be a Registered Dietitian, currently licensed and in good standing in the State of Wisconsin. ServSafe certification by the State of WI, or willing to obtain certification within the first three months of hire date.

Special Requirements:

Must have a valid driver’s license, or access to reliable personal transportation, or equivalent. For Area Agency on Aging position, this is required to travel throughout Dane County for in-home client meetings and outreach events. Also refer to the “Physical and Environmental Work Requirements” section below.

Background Check Statement: Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job’s responsibilities. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record. However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position’s responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant’s criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

For Bilingual Positions:

1. Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.).
2. Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job.

*If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/ examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.

Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:

Area Agency on Aging – Registered Dietitian: Hybrid Telecommuting – Work from Home (WFH) and at professional office building as needed. Work involves walking, sitting, standing, bending, stooping, twisting, turning, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, grasping, and reaching within normal ranges. Ability to lift and move a variety of work-related materials weighing up to 25 pounds (with/without assistance), e.g., promotional materials to outreach events in the community. Prolonged computer and phone use. Manual dexterity using fine and gross motor skills. Ability to speak and be heard by others in person, on the phone or via video conference (e.g., Zoom) for extended periods. Ability to see and hear within normal ranges with or without corrective devices.

Badger Prairie Health Care Center – Registered Dietitian: Work is non-hybrid, and the individual must report to work in person as scheduled, due to the work requirements of a nursing home. Works in moderately safe and comfortable conditions within a modern healthcare facility, with potential for exposures to odors, violence, noise, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. May be required to wear personal protective equipment, up to and including, an N95 respirator.

Work involves walking, sitting, standing, bending, stooping, twisting, turning, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, grasping, and reaching within normal ranges. Ability to lift and move a variety of work-related materials weighing up to 25 pounds (with/without assistance), or at BPHCC up to 50 pounds to help evacuate/push/lift patients in an emergency evacuation. Prolonged computer and phone use. Manual dexterity using fine and gross motor skills. Ability to speak and be heard by others in person, on the phone or via video conference (e.g., Zoom) for extended periods. Ability to see and hear within normal ranges with or without corrective devices.

Area Agency on Aging – Registered Dietitian: Must possess a thorough and working knowledge of the Older Americans Act Elderly Nutrition Program. Able to develop effective working relationships with individuals and with public and private agencies. Highly effective oral and written communication skills. Advanced skill in using Microsoft Office Suite software to include Publisher, Excel, Word, and Outlook. Ability to provide client-centered nutrition counseling to older adults in the location of their choice, which can include in their home. Demonstrated understanding of professional ethics and boundaries. Ability to assess the effectiveness of programs and agencies providing services to older adults in the Senior Nutrition Program of the Older American’s Act. Excellent documentation skills and ability to learn and heavily utilize a state database for collection of required data.

Badger Prairie Health Care Center – Registered Dietitian: Knowledge of the principles of human nutrition and clinical dietetics. Thorough knowledge of state and federal regulatory statutes governing long-term care facilities. Possession of effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to be flexible and function independently. Ability to work effectively with all residents and staff. Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding content of residents’ medical charts. Ability to interview residents and assess medical charts to complete all departmentally required nutrition assessments and care plans. Ability to exercise independent judgment in applying procedures and precedents to unusual situations. Ability to effectively communicate with the patient care team to provide quality nutritional care to the residents.