Job description

Optimus Health Care is a Federally Qualified Health Care Center with sites operating in Bridgeport, Stamford and Stratford, CT. We are the largest provider of primary health care services in Fairfield County, proudly serving all patients regardless of their ability to pay. We are presently recruiting for a full-time ( 40 hours per week) Nutritionist to work in our WIC ( Women Infant Children) program in our Bridgeport, CT WIC office. This position includes one evening per week and a Saturday rotation with approximately 4-5 Saturdays_ per year. *_Working knowledge of Spanish is preferred *This position is 100% Grant Funded.
All employees of Optimus Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject only to the limited exemptions required by law.
To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in Optimus’ Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values-outstanding, patient-centered, trustworthy, integrity, multicultural, understanding* and *supportive* -help guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.*
POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for providing nutrition education, information and referrals to participants of the WIC Program.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As a Competent Professional Authority (CPA) on the staff of the local program, conducts a complete WIC nutrition assessment, determines and documents nutritional risk of WIC participants as appropriate develops and follow-up on care plans for high-risk participants.
• Provides and document nutrition education, counseling and breastfeeding support appropriate to the WIC participant.
• Provide Nutrition Education consistent with risk criteria Facilitate participant/caretaker setting goals to address risk criteria or participant concerns.
• Is responsible for appropriate food package assignment and tailoring of WIC food package for WIC participants.
• Issue WIC food package in accordance with Federal and State regulations.
• Assures proper certification of eligible applicants.
• Assists in assuring that WIC meets all Federal, State and local Agency guidelines.
• Implements the nutrition and breastfeeding promotion and support services component of the local agency plan.
• Collects and enters information for the certification process that includes anthropometric and hematological data collection into the CT-WIC program.
• Provide and document referrals to health and social service programs and appropriate documentation of follow-up.
• Assists the program with meeting State and local objectives.
• Attends all mandatory WIC training and all agency training as required.
• Attends conferences to continue professional development, as time and budget allow.
• Record hours worked on quarterly time study in CT-WIC.
• Performs other job-related duties as necessary or assigned by Director

ADDITIONAL GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: Professional attitude, vision, understanding of customer service principals, intuitiveness, trustworthiness, and excellent interpersonal skills to successfully accomplish tasks necessary to meet high standards of ethical and social responsibility required by this position.

• Demonstrates a positive work ethic that recognizes all WIC families of varying socio-economic, ethnic, cultural and educational backgrounds.
• Interacts and communicates effectively with co-workers, WIC families and community members in a professional and respectful manner.
• Maintains confidentiality of information regarding WIC families, staff and program issues in compliance with Federal, State and local laws and specifications noted in Joint Service Agreements with other agencies.

EDUCATION:

• A Master's degree from an institution accredited by a recognized regional accrediting body in nutritional sciences, community nutrition, clinical nutrition, dietetics, public health nutrition, home economics with a major in foods and nutrition.
• One year of responsible experience in nutrition in a health agency or health care facility, or a Bachelor's degree from a four-year institution accredited by a recognized regional accrediting body with a major in foods and nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition education, or nutritional sciences
• Two years of responsible experience in nutrition in a health agency or health care facility.

• Successful completion of a Commission on Accreditation/Approval of Dietetics Education (CAADE) accredited/approved supervised practice program (e.g., a Coordinated Program, Dietetic Internship or Approved Pre-Professional Practice/AP4 Program) or a master's degree in nutrition education can qualify for one year of work experience. Persons with a master's degree in nutrition who do not have a bachelor's degree in foods and nutrition must have successfully completed the equivalent subject matter at the graduate level to compensate for any courses not completed at the undergraduate level.

EXPERIENCE:

• College graduate with nutrition related courses/subjects required.
• Education/training or work experience in computer basics and data entry a must. Competent in word processing programs, i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
• Effective communication and a one to one counseling situation and group setting.
• Prior WIC experience preferred.
• Knowledge, understanding, and sensitivity to multicultural groups, encompassing their socioeconomic backgrounds.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Excellent English oral and written skills. Working knowledge of Spanish preferred.

LICENSURE /CERTIFICATION: Certified Lactation Consultant not required but a plus

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Basic arithmetic
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to de-escalate/reason when dealing with irate participants.
Working for Optimus: * OHC provides a fun, fast-paced working environment, where our commitment to quality is present in every job function. * 100% Outpatient Setting * Excellent health benefit options * Competitive Compensation * Optimus and its caring, multi-lingual staff proudly serve our community in a patient-centered environment.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

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