SENIOR PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONIST

Senior Public Health Nutritionist - 64006208 This is a professional licensed nutrition position in the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) whose primary function is in the provision of quality nutrition services to our clients. This position reports directly to the Sr. Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor. Primary duties are to provide direct client services by performing nutrition assessments, nutrition counseling, and certification to clients eligible for the WIC program; to work as an effective team member with all staff in the agency, as well as other providers involved in the care of WIC clients. The person in this position must demonstrate good communication skills, professional ability and a high degree of expertise in sound dietary practices. The incumbent of this position will come to work and exhibit an attitude of friendliness and eager customer service towards all clients and act respectfully and courteously to fellow employees and clients. Compliance with all standards associated with this position is required, along with adherence to security, integrity, and confidentiality regulations, policies, and procedures related to information under the direct control of this position. Certifies clients for participation in the WIC program in accordance with federal requirements and Florida Department of Health WIC policies and guidelines as stated in DHM 150-24. Accurately determines a nutritional/health risk for certification through individual nutrition assessments and evaluations of health data obtained. Provides appropriate WIC food packages to clients based on individually assessed information and current rules in place. Develops a nutrition care plan for all clients directly services, particularly the medical high risk and high risk clients, utilizing all health and nutrition factors available for assessment. Nutrition notes are to be documented utilizing SOAP method of Problem Oriented Medical Recording. Provides professional nutrition counseling and follow-ups to all clients in accordance with established VENA (Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment) care plan, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion requirements. Is responsible for providing medical nutrition therapy for medical high risk clients with appropriate documentation. Provides nutrition education on an individual or group basis in areas of infant, childhood, prenatal, postpartum, breastfeeding, and general nutrition to promote the development of dietary practices beneficial to health. Participates in other community nutrition education promotions when appropriate. Assists in the development and training for informational materials provided to clients. Participates in the plans, requirements, and evaluations that integrate nutrition education components into the Bay County Nutrition Program Plan. Will actively promote breastfeeding as preferred method of infant feeding. Will follow established breastfeeding policies for issuance, follow-up, receipt, and cleaning of electric breast pumps. Will be actively involved in the end of the month inventories. Duties will include providing support to clinic staff. Will keep supervisor updated on any clinic problems or concerns, both client and employee related. Will assist in quality improvement record and peer reviews to assure quality nutritional care is provided. Will assist in the training of all Bay CHD WIC employees on DOH Florida Nutrition Training Guides. Completes all required reports such as EARS, documentation requirements, requests and assignments correctly and within needed time frames. Will be cross-trained and will be expected to foster teamwork and assist staff when clinic staffing is short. This will include the training of hematological and anthropometric measurements. Will perform these duties to obtain clients' laboratory values as needed. Attends staff meetings, in-service trainings and other professional and staff development activities. Supports and encourages participation in Bay CHD committees as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. Serves as an active member of the following: Quality Assurance team, Local Agency Program Review team, and Nutrition Program Plan team. Using WIC Quality Assurance Tool, reviews WIC records for CPA compliance and makes necessary corrections on monthly basis. Using WIC Local Agency Program Review Tool, reviews both nutrition and administrative sections of the form and makes necessary corrections in the time frame provided. Following WIC state Nutrition Program Plan template, reviews the plan for accuracy and makes necessary corrections in the time frame provided. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to provide own transportation to assigned work sites Ability to maintain client confidentiality and interact professional with the public. Ability to assist clients in accessing community resource services. Ability to interview clients to identify needs. Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work activities. Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with others. Qualifications: Must be licensed as a Dietitian/Nutritionist in accordance with the Florida Statues Chapter 458 or eligible to practice Dietetics in accordance with Chapter 21M, Section 48.001, 48.002, or 48.003 Florida Administrative Code. Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts. Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Values: Innovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely. Collaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems. Accountability: We perform with integrity & respect. Responsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners. Excellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement. Where You Will Work: Panama City, Florida The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Annual and Sick Leave benefits; Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year; State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options; Retirement plan options, including employer contributions; Flexible Spending Accounts; Tuition waivers; and More For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com. Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process. This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov. If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility. Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days. All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of