Nutritionist (HPC/ND 2) - Clarendon Health Department

Job Purpose

Under the general direction of the Parish Nutritionist and in collaboration with the Medical Officer of Health, the Nutritionist delivers clinical and public health nutrition services within an assigned geographical area. The position focuses on implementing nutrition programmes, providing nutrition counselling, conducting community outreach, collecting programme data, and supporting monitoring and evaluation activities to contribute to the achievement of national and regional nutrition goals. 

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition/Verification of Competency in Nutrition and Dietetics from a recognized institution or Master of Science Degree in Nutrition;
• Be registered with the Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine;
• Three (3) years progressive working experience in the field of Public Health Nutrition would be an asset 
• Supervisory/Management Certification an asset 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

• Maintains current knowledge of research relating to the practice of Nutrition
• Ability to set professional standards, motivate staff, maintain satisfactory relationships with staff, the community, and other health workers 
• Excellent Oral and Written Communication skills, to include the use of information, communication & technology 
• Excellent Teamwork & Cooperation Initiative 
• Customer Focus & Quality Focus 

Key responsibilities to include:

Management and Administrative 

• Implementing the nutritional programme for the assigned area of work.
• Providing technical assistance to the staff within the assigned area of work, including interpreting policies, procedures and programme plans. 
• Supervising Assistant Nutritionist, and Nutrition Community Aides in assigned area
• In collaboration with the Parish Nutritionist, maintains relationships with local governments agencies and other non-governmental agencies to bring about a greater support for programmes. 
• Making presentations to groups, such as students, school administrators, community, clinic population, health care staff and civil associations about nutrition. 
• In collaboration with Parish Nutritionist, conducts in-service training activities for government and non-government groups or organizations. 
• Providing nutrition and food service consultation and technical assistance to nursing homes and private and public long-term care facility, child care facilities and schools within geographically assigned area. 
• Preparing all required reports (statistics and narrative) including special reports, monthly, quarterly and annually within agreed timeframe and according to regional and national guidelines. 
• Maintaining effective intradepartmental communications by participating in the meetings, conferences and monthly staff meetings to ensure that all staff are kept informed of the Region/Ministry and departmental plans, policy updates, personnel changes, where appropriate. 
• Conducting nutrition audits and surveys as required. 
• Managing the food supplementation programme in assigned area to nutritionally at-risk clients. 
• Attending and participating in seminars, workshops, meetings on changing trends in nutrition. 

Technical 

• In collaboration with the Regional Nutritionist, Parish Nutritionist and Assistant Nutritionists assists with the preparation of goals and objectives for the Parish Nutrition programme and in developing the general strategy to be followed in attaining predetermined objectives and targets. 
• Investigating the nutritional problems within the assigned area of work.
• Conducting relevant programmes to alleviate nutritional problems in assigned areas. 

Research 

• Maintaining current knowledge of research relating to the practice of Nutrition.
• Participating in nutritional research projects. 

Clinical 

• Assessing the nutritional status and needs of individuals and/or groups as required to ensure that targets are met. 
• Analyzing patient’s nutrition needs. 
• Formulating nutrition diagnosis. 
• Documenting assessment and care plans in medical records. 
• Assisting in the development of patient education material and educate/counsel patients and or significant others. 
• Monitoring and evaluating nutrition care outcome for individual patient and document in medical records. 
• Conducting home visits to clients with nutrition related conditions. 
• Assessing at risk population during the post disaster period and provide nutrition management of individuals and groups as outlined in the nutrition disaster plan. 

Human Resource Management 

• Monitoring and evaluating the performance of staff, prepares performance appraisals and recommends corrective action where necessary to improve performance.
• In collaboration with the Parish Nutritionist, plans programmes in Nutrition for Professional and Allied Health staff in the assigned area. 
• Conducting staff orientation in accordance with Regional guidelines and in collaboration with Medical Officer of Health and Parish Nutritionist. 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB

• Required to travel extensively and work in remote communities, on a regular and recurring basis requiring considerable walking or traveling over uneven terrain and unpaved roads. Some physical ability is required. 
• Required to meet critical deadlines.
• Exposure to confidential and sensitive information. 
• Required to respond to nutrition emergencies in assigned geographical areas. 

NB. ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED