Health & Nutrition Specialist

Job Title

Responsible for assisting in the coordination and delivery of health and nutritional services to children enrolled in Children and Family Services' programs.

Job Description

Works closely with the Health and Nutrition Coordinator, contracted licensed dietitian/nutritionist, community partners, parents, and other staff to coordinate and provide services promoting the school readiness, health, safety, and nutrition of enrolled children and families. Assists with the planning of menus to meet children's dietary needs including children with special health and dietary restrictions. Responsible for determining eligibility for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food program and keeping accurate records of meal counts and USDA reimbursements. Performs clerical functions such as entering information into a database that pertains to USDA and medical information in addition to maintaining accurate files and records for the children and families. Serve as a substitute Cook when necessary. Assists in ensuring the program adheres to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, USDA or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Nutrition Standards, National Health and Safety Performance Standards and Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, Virginia Department of Health regulations, and other applicable child care licensing standards and guidelines related to childcare, health, nutrition, and safety. Assists in planning menus to ensure dietary needs of children with allergies and other restrictions are met for Children and Family Services classrooms and classrooms sponsored by the division (i.e., Child Development Resources); ensures all menus are approved by the contracted licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Serves as site USDA cafeteria monitor and completes all necessary documentation. Responsible for ordering of all health supplies; assists the cooks with the weekly shopping, and prepares meals in their absence if necessary; collaborates with Health and Nutrition Coordinator and with the offsite cafeteria managers to ensure meals and billing are completed without errors; and supports the Health and Nutrition Coordinator with gathering the information for entry into computerized system used for meal counts and health-related information. Assists with the completion of the USDA/CACFP annual agreement, meal reimbursement request, food establishment permits, program's emergency preparedness and response plan, environmental inspections and CACFP monitoring, safety drills, and maintains environmental checklist and all other necessary reports. Collect, analyze, and interpret programmatic data to identify trends and areas for improvement; utilize data to create reports to support decision-making and data-driven efficiency; provide administrative support for organizational initiatives. Coordinates transportation services to ensure safe transport of children to and from the Head Start Program, as well as on any special events or field trips; assigns children to bus stop; assists bus aide; sets up bus schedule for bus rotation and inspection with garage. Conducts regular CACFP monitoring and safety checks; maintains and conducts emergency drills throughout the school year; maintains and ensures all fire inspections, and food safety licensing and inspections are completed and posted; ensures all fire and safety hazards are reported and corrected immediately; reviews weekly safety and sanitation checks in classrooms and kitchens. Assists in documenting, coordinating and conducting health and nutritional screenings for children enrolled in the Head Start Program, including children with disabilities, to ensure children have and maintain current immunizations and physical throughout the school year; collaborates with parents and medical providers to ensure that children receive medical examinations and any necessary treatment. Consults with staff, parents, physicians, health department personnel, and social service agencies concerning children's health and nutritional needs. Administers medication and develops special diets and/or health plans as appropriate. Provides basic first aid medical care for children as necessary; arranges for medical attention when parents are unavailable; provides emergency care for children and adults to include administering CPR if necessary; aids in monitoring, tracking, and reporting communicable diseases to the local health department. Assists in coordinating and carrying out training, special events, parent-child activities, outreach, community partnerships, special committees (i.e., Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee), and recruitment events which are responsive to the ongoing and expressed needs of families. This may include working some evenings and/or weekends. Meets federal, state, and program documentation requirements by creating and maintaining accurate, objective, complete, timely, and well-organized files, reports, and child and family records.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate's degree and two (2) years of experience in a health, nutrition, or food service industry. A typical way to qualify is: Six (6) years of closely related experience in a health, nutrition, or food service industry. Must possess a valid commercial driver's license with the appropriate endorsements issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia or have the ability to obtain such license within two years of employment. Must possess a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Requires an initial physical examination to include screening for tuberculosis, and periodic re-examinations to ensure the incumbent poses no significant health risk to the participants in the Head Start Program. Requires acceptable criminal and child protective services background checks. Must obtain and maintain certifications for the following: Medication Administration, Food Handlers, Food Protection Manager, and ServSafe.

This job is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment checks to include criminal history, background and DMV record checks.

Supplemental Information

General knowledge of health, safety, and nutrition. General knowledge of medications, their uses, and potential adverse effects, including drugs used to control hyperactive children. Thorough knowledge of office practices including the use of computers, word processing, database management, and spreadsheet software. Ability to administer medication and perform CPR and first aid. Ability to recognize, assess, and respond to signs of child abuse and neglect. Ability to set limits, maintain a supportive role to employees, and intervene appropriately to meet the needs of program participants and their families. Ability to perceive and deal with sensitive issues while maintaining confidentiality and objectivity. Ability to work as a team member, interact with and assist all employees, and facilitate groups, especially training and planning functions. Ability to communicate and interact effectively with people from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Ability to establish and maintain mutually respectful partnerships and effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups, and interests. Ability to collect, organize, record, and process information quickly and efficiently. Ability to prioritize a heavy workload and consistently meet deadlines with minimum supervision.

Physical Demands

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment, including laptops, medical examination equipment, scales, vision and hearing screening equipment such audiometers, tympanometers, titmus vision instruments, etc. Must be able to operate a variety of medical equipment. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. There is a good deal of standing and walking when cooking, grocery shopping, and serving meals. Work involves frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, and occasionally running and crawling while interacting, examining, and treating children. At times, it may be necessary to lift, handle, or carry a child weighing up to 55 pounds.