Dietitian (40 Hour)

DDS South Region•Wallingford, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) - South Region has a full-time first (1st) shift job opportunity for a Dietitian in the South Region Public Programs, located in Wallingford, CT. The clinical dietitian in this position would oversee all the nutritional needs for medically and behaviorally challenged individuals residing in the DDS Public Sector at Harford Regional Center in Newington, Connecticut as well as area CLA homes. The combined HRC and CLA caseload would support approximately 85 individuals.

Requirements

Possess a current certification as a Dietitian issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health.
Be a registered Dietitian (RD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Must have a valid driver's license.
Registration as a Registered Dietitian (RD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Certification as a Dietitian issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 20-206n and 20-206r.
Interpersonal skills.
Oral and written communication skills.
Ability to independently plan and coordinate the delivery of nutritional services.
Ability to utilize computer software.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.
Registered as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Experience with menu development, including individualized meal plans.
Experience developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Nutritional Care Plans for medical nutritional therapy in accordance with an individual’s medical goals and objectives.
Experience with interpreting medical, psychological, cultural and environmental information pertinent to individual’s nutritional care in both an inpatient or an outpatient setting.
Experience with verbal and electronic diet prescriptions from physicians; and recommending medical laboratory tests consistent with established protocols of Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Experience preparing nutritional reports in accordance with ICF regulations.
Experience developing specialized nutritional care plans which simultaneously address multiple disease processes.
Experience working with an interdisciplinary team, as well as verbal and written communications to internal and external stakeholders.
Experience developing and presenting training to staff members, clinicians, individuals/guardians on therapeutic diets, food-drug interactions, external feeding management, and dietary interventions.
Experience using Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.

Responsibilities

Ensures the professional practice of nutritional services, complies with local, state and federal regulations.
Advises agency on translating nutritional science into practical and applicable daily food and nutrition choices.
Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates Nutritional Care Plans for medical nutritional therapy in accordance with an individual’s medical goals and objectives.
Accurately obtains and interprets medical, psychological, cultural and environmental information pertinent to individual’s nutritional care in both an inpatient or an outpatient setting.
Develops specialized nutritional care plans which simultaneously address multiple disease processes.
Records and interprets pertinent information in medical records.
Communicates recommendations to appropriate healthcare team members and collaborates with outside agencies, other healthcare professionals and program providers.
Accepts or transmits verbal or electronic diet prescriptions from physicians.
Recommends medical laboratory tests consistent with established protocols of Medical Nutrition Therapy.
Recommends nutritional modifications and coordinates changes with clinicians.
Provides nutrition education/counseling to all staff, clinicians, individuals and/or their family/guardian on therapeutic diets, food-drug interactions, enteral feeding management, and/or any dietary intervention associated with medical nutrition therapy.
Develops and presents training to agency employees.
Conducts meal observations.
Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team and other healthcare committees.
Inspects and consults on care and maintenance of kitchen and dietary supplies and equipment.
Works to provide food items and nutritional supplements to meet individuals needs and budgetary constraints.
Conducts and calculates intake studies and nutritional analysis of menus and diets to confirm compliance to dietary standards.
Maintains and prepares nutritional reports in accordance with ICF regulations.
Menu development including individualized meal plans.
Evaluates and reports on current nutritional trends and the impact on daily nutritional needs and costs.
Performs related duties as required.