Dietitian/Nutritionist

Job Description

As the Dietitian/Nutritionist for The Kessler Center, part of Easterseals New York (ESNY), you will provide direction to residents and their staff on healthy living and good nutrition, implement meal plans, work with the health care team regarding residents' nutritional needs, and teach residents and staff about food selection and nutrition principles. Full-time or part-time role available.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing screening of new clients for nutritional risk/need for nutritional assessment primarily in the residential programs.
• Making recommendations to the admissions committee about the ability of ESNY to meet the nutritional health needs of potential clients.
• Performing nutritional assessments, including evaluation of height, weight, and BMI-for-age (using the CDC growth charts), estimation of energy, protein, and fluid needs versus intake (with a strong collaboration with nursing and PCP on bowel management), diagnosis of current nutrition problems, recommendations and follow up for nutrition interventions and goals.
• Corresponding and collaborating with case managers, clinicians, nurses, physicians, educators, therapists, and direct staff to develop and implement appropriate nutrition interventions.
• Overseeing monthly anthropometric measurements of residents and monitor changes and report changes to nurse/PCP and Interdisciplinary Team.
• Developing and recommending nutritional policies as needed; follow up on the proper and consistent execution of policies implemented by upper management.
• Periodically observing meal preparation and meal services in the residences to ensure appropriate menus, health codes, safety, and support of all individuals and consult with behavior specialists, occupational therapists, medical providers, or other clinical staff or contractors as needed to ensure the success of all individuals in areas of nutrition and self-feeding (pacing, grip, adaptive equipment).
• Consulting with the psychiatric team on medication impact on diet, drug/food interactions, and lab work.
• Participating in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, medical rounding, and/or psychiatric rounding as required/requested.
• Contributing to the comprehensive functional assessment and/or individual service plan and design and monitor functional goals for independence based on those assessments.
• Gaining expertise in PKU, diabetes, or other metabolic disorders as required by current residents including attending and consulting with the PKU clinic at URMC.
• Presenting regular in-services and training to residential, food service, and educational staff on nutritional policies and tenets of good nutrition and overall wellness.
• Developing and implementing appropriate group nutrition education to residents.
• Providing one-on-one nutritional counseling for residents.
• Participating in designing curriculum for new employee orientation.
• Consulting and collaborating with food service manager and kitchen staff in the educational setting (The Kessler Center school) as needed to guide the service of appealing nutritionally balanced meals which meet the needs of the residents and day students as well as comply with state and federal guidelines.
• Consulting with other agency day programs serving ESNY residents as requested by those programs to support ESNY resident health.
• Consulting on food consistency/texture to support the self-feeding and sensory needs of residents.
• Regularly reviewing residential menus and create specified meal plans and weekly revised menus for residents with special nutritional needs and/or medical conditions.
• Designing and coordinating health promotion initiatives for residents and staff.
• Providing supervision to any nutrition assistants if applicable.
• Attending continuing education and bringing best practices and current research into practice.
• Placing the health and welfare of the clients paramount above all other requirements.

You're a great fit for this role if you have:

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition or related field allowing pursuit of licensure.
• Completion of dietetic internship
• Current state licensure and registration or eligibility to obtain.
• Experience with developmental disabilities preferred.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Compensation: $60,000-$70,000

The mission of Easterseals New York is to spread help, hope and answers. We operate programs that enable people with special needs to achieve equality, dignity, and independence in their own communities. We provide exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. We change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day. Easterseals has been an American Institution since 1919. Easterseals New York joined The Fedcap Group in 2015.

The Fedcap Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are an EOE employer committed to diversity.