Description

WHO WE ARE:

Are you interested in working for an organization whose mission it is to enable frail, underserved, and multicultural senior communities to live independently at home and in their communities, for as long as possible?

Bakersfield County Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is dedicated to providing its participants with comprehensive health and social supports that are proven to effectively manage chronic conditions and to reduce the risk for premature institutionalization. PACE staff are leaders in the “aging in place” industry and we have had the honor of serving Fresno, Bakersfield and Orange County seniors and their families/caregivers.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Registered Dietitian Manager, displays a comprehensive knowledge of clinical nutrition and therapeutic diets; completes participant nutritional assessments and reassessments as needed; obtains participant food preferences and observes for adherence to dietary modifications; determines adequacy of current diet and supplements when necessary; conducts meal rounds and sanitation inspections; provides nutrition education to participants, caregivers, and Innovative Integrated Health staff.

Essential Job Functions

• Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT); perform initial, semi-annual, unscheduled, and annual assessments of participants; and develops and implements the nutritional plan of care, including physician orders for special diets, for each participant.

• Involved in the development and implementation of QAPI activities.

• Responsible for supervision of dietary aide; meet with dietary aide regularly.

• Monitor therapeutic diets and special dietary modifications, and communicate concerns with interdisciplinary team; determine each participant’s need for liquid nutritional supplements; and order as needed.

• Monitor participant food intake; follow up with dietary aide, interdisciplinary team, and participants with comments/concerns.

• Assess participants’ access to food and make appropriate referrals to interdisciplinary team for: meal preparation evaluation, Meals on Wheels, sack lunches, grocery shopping needs, and meal preparation provided.

• Communicate with in-home service providers regarding participants’ meal preparation skills, safety in the kitchen, stock of groceries, and intake of food and fluids at home as needed.

• Monitor adequacy of lunch and snack menus for the center.

• Update sack lunch list, supplement sheet, and feeding room guide as needed.

• Assist with meal service.

• Monitor stock in refrigerator, freezer, and dry storage as needed.

• Communicate regularly with vendors.

• Monitor dietary expenditures, complete budget reports, anticipate projected budgetary needs, and discuss with supervisor.

• Maintain safe and sanitary working environment; and follow Innovative Integrated Health safety policies and procedures; handle potentially infectious specimens with appropriate biohazard precautions and practice Universal Precautions.

• Provide basic nutrition and sanitation education for participants, families, primary caregivers, and/or Innovative Integrated Health staff as needed.

• Participate in wound care meetings with updates on participants’ nutritional status; family meetings; and work area development and department meetings.

• Responsible for staff hiring, orientation, training, and development, and performance appraisal; set clear expectations and assign appropriate authority to staff; hold staff accountable for their scope of work and compliance to company policies and procedures.

• Interact in a courteous, pleasant, and friendly manner with participants and families, Innovative Integrated Health staff, and staff at contracted facilities, as applicable; and demonstrate effective partnership management skills.

• Maintain the confidentiality of all company procedures, results, and information about participants or families.

• Attend and participate in staff meetings, in-services, projects, and committees as assigned.

• Adhere to and support the center’s practices, procedures, and policies including assigned break times and attendance.

• Accept assigned duties in a cooperative manner; and perform all other related duties as assigned.

• Be flexible in schedule of hours worked.

• May require use of personal vehicle

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical nutrition and therapeutic diets; and ability to assess clients’ nutritional needs.

• Skilled in medical terminology, including knowledge of the appropriate documentation for completing written assessments.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication with employees, participants, and the public.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of documented experience working with a frail or elderly population.

Education and Certification

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in food science, nutrition, and/or dietetics.

• Certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as a Registered Dietitian.

• Is medically cleared for communicable diseases and has all immunizations up-to-date before engaging in direct participant contact.