Nutrition Assistant

King County•Wa. 98133, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nutrition Assistant (also called WIC Certifier) will provide services to clients participating in the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, assess eligibility, and provide nutrition education to individuals and families - both through individual appointments in person and by phone and in a group or classroom setting. The Nutrition Assistant works with a team and closely with Registered Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Community Health Workers and healthcare workers from community partners. This position works within our WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) team, a part of our Community Health Services Division of Public Health. WIC supports mothers and children through healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and connections to additional resources. WIC is for pregnant individuals, new and breastfeeding moms, and children under age 5. The successful candidates will exhibit excellent customer service skills, have the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with our clients from various cultures, and communicate effectively with English as a Second Language (ESL) clients with the assistance of an interpreter. The candidates will also exhibit flexibility in managing tasks such as teaching classes, providing front desk coverage, along with providing direct WIC services to participant families both in person and remote via phone or video.

Requirements

Demonstrated proficiency in a variety of computer programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Suite – Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation.
Ability to complete the Washington State WIC paraprofessional competencies within 6 months of hire.
Ability to obtain Washington State Medical Assistant-Registered or Phlebotomist certification within 30 days of hire in order to perform hemoglobin/hematocrit testing on WIC participants.
Ability to obtain a Washington State food worker card.
Must possess a current BLS for Healthcare Providers with AED certification before hire.
Ability to apply nutrition and health promotion knowledge/practices in working with clients from diverse backgrounds to make positive changes in health behaviors.
Working knowledge of or lived experience with basic nutrition theory and practice, medical terminology, asepsis practices, and universal precautions.
Demonstrated ability to provide direct client services in a health care setting.
Demonstrated knowledge and skills related to basic cooking and food demonstration techniques.
Ability to understand various perspectives and listen to others without conveying judgment.
Excellent problem solving, priority setting, and organizational abilities.
Commitment to equity and racial justice principles and demonstrated ability to serve clients with cultural humility.
The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR
The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in Spanish or other language spoken by most WIC participants
Demonstrated working experience in the WIC program

Responsibilities

Gather and assess information for determining health and nutrition risk factors, program eligibility, client education, and referrals.
Provide group nutrition education and individual nutrition education, which includes breastfeeding support.
Obtain and document anthropometric measurements for infants, children and adults, which may include obtaining blood samples for hemoglobin testing.
Respond to telephone inquiries – screen, schedule, and interview diverse clients to determine the appointment type and appropriate provider.
Document client information and services and manage appointment schedules in electronic record (Cascades) to support the WIC program.
Provide direct customer service to a diverse clientele, providing WIC services, issuing and educating on the use of WIC benefits, determining appointment types needed.
Conduct WIC outreach and program tasks, such as generating end-of-day reports and client letters and making referrals to other Public Health services.
Participate in WIC-related committees, including breastfeeding promotion activities, clinic health and information fairs, and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
Order and maintain program supplies and educational materials.
Participate in quality assurance activities.
Complete annual WIC training, and continuing nutrition and breastfeeding education requirements.
Use Microsoft Outlook and other electronic communication tools to coordinate work and meet training requirements.
May be required to lift and lower a child weighing up to 35 pounds onto a surface more than 4 feet high with or without accommodation.