Full Time Temporary Aide - Registered Dietitian II - Nutrition Services- CMHHIP

Temporary Aide - Registered Dietitian II - Full Time - Nutrition Services

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) 1600 W 24th St, Pueblo, CO 81003 Shift details will be discussed during the interview process 100% In-Person Anticipated End Date: 6/30/2027 Please Note: anticipated start and end dates may change depending on recruitment status. This position is open to current Colorado residents only. This position is required to work at the assigned work location during your scheduled work times. Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

As a cornerstone of the Pueblo community for over a century, the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is a leading employer, provider of quality mental health services, and a community partner. About the Nutrition Services department: The Nutrition Services Department exists to provide quality food service and medical nutrition therapy to more than 1600 clients in a mental health care facility and the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC). With over 100 employees, the department strives, within available resources, to provide adequate nutrition to clients based on medical, spiritual, ethnic, cultural, and mental health needs.

Description of Job

Registered Dietitians fulfill a didactic role in providing clinical dietetic services and managing the food service subsystems/resources in the execution of the department's mission as stated above. The purpose of this position is to provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a mental health hospital setting. The position works closely with departmental and interdisciplinary teams to provide inpatient care. Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology to assess nutrition status, identify nutrition diagnoses, and develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk.

Position Duties:

• Medical Nutrition Therapy: As an independent, fully operational professional, the Dietitian II delivers advanced medical nutrition therapy in a complex psychiatric hospital. The role relies on professional judgment, discretion, and dietetic theory to assess patient needs. Using specialized software and electronic health records, the Dietitian II applies the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Nutrition Care Process to create individualized treatment plans.
• Quality Improvement and Regulatory Compliance: Operates independently as a fully operational professional to design and implement continuous quality improvement activities for nutrition care services. Utilizes professional discretion and creativity to evaluate patient council and surveys client input to enhance food service operations. Interrelates with other departments to exchange information, elicit support, and in collaborative decision-making. Serves on committees and oral boards at the hospital, CDHS, and state level. Participates in planning, developing, and implementing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals. Assists in developing and revising patient or staff education materials, clinical forms and protocols. Demonstrates accountability with rules for use and disclosure of patient/client protected health information requested by HIPPA. Assures the care delivered to each patient is in accordance with state regulation and licensing, certification, or registration for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner. Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission and other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve both the safety and quality of care for the patient/client and the organization's overall performance. Complies with state and federal requirements set forth under CMS. Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities. Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.
• Standards of Practice: Responsible for creating and finalizing designated menus in compliance with regulatory standards, the defined diet manual, the menu guide, and explicit facility needs. Uses nutrition software to build and manage patient-specific menus, food allergies, and specialized texture modifications. Assesses and updates nutrition standards of practice for the Registered Dietitian at the CMHHIP. Develops recommendations and provides critical evaluation on clinical nutrition-related policies and procedures. Supports review and development of clinical nutrition protocols and menus for use within the hospital. Participates in nutrition projects and communicates findings through reports, presentations, etc. Develops and implements an individualized portfolio plan based on competencies and performance indicators that demonstrate professional growth and development. Continuously improves performance to advance knowledge based on applied practice-informed evidence and feedback from others. Applies Scope of Practice and Standards of Practice (SOPs) tools for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners. Communicates effectively with patients and staff through professional communications, writing, and presentations.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Other duties as assigned by supervisor or Appointing Authority.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented in the work experience section of your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. Minimum Qualifications Applicants must attach a CURRENT and VALID Registered Dietician license to be considered for this position failure to provide the required documentation will remove your application from consideration Experience Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position Acceptable relevant experience in: dietetics experience or nutrition experience as a licensed dietitian, registered as a dietitian with the American Dietetics Association (Please submit required license at time of application).

OR Education and Experience A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to five (5) years Related education in: Bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or related area, granted by the US regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent. Completion of required dietetics coursework and supervised practice through a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position must possess Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential by the Commission of Dietetics Registration (CDR).

Preferred Qualifications: Proficiency in Google Suite and GMAIL Experience in behavior health or eating disorders Clinical experience in hospital setting or high security facility Key Competencies: Communication Interpersonal Relations Technical Knowledge Analytical Thinking Customer Focus Conditions of Employment: A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Full Background - Name and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification, Drug Screen, Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS May be required to travel to offsite trainings, meetings and conferences May be required to work nights and weekends Must possess and maintain registration as a registered dietitian Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates the relationship; all relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application. Ability to read, write, and fluently communicate in English to successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum, relevant clinical competency assessments, and institutional safety and security protocols. Demonstrate the physical endurance to navigate a large, multi-building hospital campus, which requires extended periods of walking, standing during interdisciplinary rounds, and the ability to safely maneuver through clinical units to conduct in-person patient nutritional assessments. May be designated as a "Critical" or "Essential" employee, requiring compliance with mandatory emergency reporting requirements and attendance during adverse weather, facility emergencies, or public health crises to ensure continuous clinical and dietary operations for the hospital. Ability to work compliantly and safely in a high-security, locked psychiatric environment, which includes strictly adhering to facility protocols regarding contraband, key control, and emergency de-escalation, while maintaining composure during unpredictable or volatile patient interactions. Comply with mandatory emergency reporting requirements to ensure continuous facility operations during adverse situations. Must successfully complete a 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening upon hire and maintain compliance with annual influenza vaccinations and any other vaccinations required by the State of Colorado. This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position. Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must: Disclose that information on the application. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.