JOB SUMMARY

This position is responsible for 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 PACE of West Baltimore staff. Promotes professional working relationships with both internal and external customers. Adheres to and supports all organizational policies and procedures and standards. The Registered Dietitian is responsible for the hiring and ongoing supervision of the Dietary Aide. Promotes teamwork!

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and implements nutritional care plans for participants.
• Completes initial and annual assessments for all participants and semiannual reassessments for each participant with an open dietary problem.
• Provides nutrition education and counseling to participants, family and/or caregivers based on individual plans of carein accordance withAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics standards.
• Maintains required certifications/registrations.
• Determinesandmonitorstherapeutic diets, special dietary modifications and communicates concerns withinterdisciplinaryteam.
• Coordinates with the Interdisciplinary Team to develop a comprehensive plan of care for each participant.
• Assistsparticipants with community food resources including Meals on Wheels, congregate meal sites, commodity foods, and coordination/communication with Project Angel Heart.
• Functions as a liaison to Kitchen services,overseesdining service needs, monitors meal service, special diet adherence, and addresses nutritional concerns with serving staff.
• Assistin implementing nutritionpolicies and procedures andconductssanitation/food safety checksin the diningservice environment.
• Assistswith the compliance and administration of the food program, including staff training, menu review, and monitoring of meal service.
• Develop andmaintainrelationships with contractors and staff in contracted facilities to foster communication around nutrition care and interventions.

• Provide nutrition education to staff and community asrequested.
• Monitors weights, medical diagnosis, changes in chewing, swallowing, hydration, mood changes, intake, other health and environment changes andreportschanges to interdisciplinary team members.
• Participate in care team meetings, participant careconferencesand family meetings.
• Manage nutrition supplement products provided by PACE: Assessneed for supplements, write orders,monitoreffectiveness, manageinventoryand coordinate delivery of products to participants.
• Assistsintraining ofnew staff.
• Participates in work area development, in-service training, and department meetings.
• Demonstrates dependability, punctuality,good communicationskills, and work area readiness.
• Interacts in a courteous,pleasantand friendly manner with co-workers, participants, families,PACE of West Baltimorestaff and staff at contracted facilities.
• Communicatesregularly with vendors.
• Monitors expenditures with commitment to good stewardship of the organization’s resources.
• Communicates clearly and concisely with sensitivity to the needs of others.
• Considers the impact of decisions on other departments and thecompany as a whole, whiledemonstratingeffective partnership management skills.
• Handles potentially infectious specimens withappropriate biohazardprecautions, and practices Universal Precautions.
• Maintains courteous, helpful, and professional behavior on the job. Displays a willingness and ability to be responsive in a warm and caring manner to all customer groups. Consistently cooperates and supportsorganizationin problem solving issues.
• Additionalresponsibilities will be added atmanagersdiscretion, as career growth opportunities and responsibilities are constantly arising in our flexible and start-up environment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Dietary Aide

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degreefrom andan accredited college or university in food science, nutrition, and/or dietetics isrequired.
• credentialedby the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dieteticsas a Registered Dietitian.
• Minimum of 1 year experience in long-term carepreferred, one year experience working with a frail or elderly populationrequired.

• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical nutrition and therapeutic diets.
• Ability to assess client’s nutritional needs.
• Skilled in medical terminology, including knowledge of theappropriate documentationfor completing written assessments.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills anddemonstratethe ability to interact clearly and effectively with both internal and external customers.
• Mustsubmitto and pass a pre-employment drug/alcohol screening and criminal background check.
• Musthave a current Driver’s License and driving record mustbe in compliance withCompany policy. Mustmaintaincurrent automobile insurance.
• Skilled in the use of computer and EHR system
• Skilled inestablishingand maintaining effective working relationships with participants, co-workers, vendors, medical staff, and the public.
• Must be free of communicable diseases that can be readily transmitted in the workplace.TBtest isrequiredwithin the first7 days of employment.HepB vaccinations are offered butnotrequired.
• Operates in full compliance with all applicable federal,stateand local fire, health, safety, sanitation, Emergencyproceduresand other Standards prescribed in law or regulations.

ABOUT PACE of West Baltimore

PACE of West Baltimore (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is an integrated, home and community-based care model designed to help seniors maintain their independence and remain part of their communities for as long as safely possible. We care for our participants through a harmony of center-based services and personalized in-home care, spanning clinical, behavioral, and social services.

PACE is a proven, cost-effective care model, saving states an average of 13% versus other Medicaid services, including nursing homes and community-based waiver programs. PACE of West Baltimore’s unique approach to PACE is enhanced by our deep expertise in in-home care, clinical geriatrics, data analytics, and virtual care technology, all for the purpose of improving the health and quality of life of our patients.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

PACE of West Baltimore is an Alcohol/Drug/Smoke-Free Workplace

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Requirements:While performing the duties of this job, the employee isfrequentlyrequired to stand; walk; lift heavy objects; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk, see,hearand smell.  Requires full range of body motion, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination; requires the ability to use department equipment, to communicate effectively; The employee is occasionally required to reach and stretch with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee maybe requiredto endure extremes in temperature and may work in hazardous environments where personal protective equipment isrequired. Requires the ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds and push or pull objects exceeding 150 pounds, usingappropriate bodymechanics. 
• Visual, Hearing and Communication Requirements: Requires corrected vision andhearing towithinnormalrange, with or without reasonable accommodation. Must be able to communicate effectively in verbal and written form with all levels of personnel within and outside of the organization.   
• Pressure Factor: Requires working under stressful conditions. Moderate pressure to meet scheduled and recurring deadlines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Environmental Conditions: Working conditions may be noisy with fluctuating indoor temperatures.  Must have the ability to work under moderate pressurein order tomeet scheduled appointments or deadlines while dealing with frail, disabled and/or confused participants/clients. Subject to individuals who may have the potential for physical or verbal aggression. May be exposed to a risk of bodily injury through contact with moving instrumentation, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, bodily fluids, communicablediseasesand other conditions common in a clinic environment. Subject to unpleasant odors.