Senior Clinical Dietitian

About the role

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people's lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based.

Responsibilities

• Oversees operations of the nutrition department and performs administrative functions
• Develops, monitors, and revises departmental policies and procedures in accordance with approved Nutrition Care Manual and Clinical Diet Manual
• Evaluates quality assurance monitoring of department activities and participates in Quality Management activities of other campus departments
• Plans, directs and monitors nutrition programs and activities to assure compliance with relevant regulations and professional standards of care
• Prepares reports including but not limited to the results of patient meal satisfaction surveys and performance improvement plans to be presented to the Leadership Team, Quality Management, and the Performance Improvement Committee
• Consults and acts as a liaison with Food Services Team to provide accurate and timely information on menu changes and special diets/menus as required
• Approves menu changes for compliance with relevant nutritional standards
• Develops additional variations to standard cycle menus to meet needs of campus population as required
• Conducts quality assurance meal observations and provides timely feedback to Food Services Team as necessary
• Investigates complaints and/or deficiencies and maintains compliance with regulatory agencies and departmental standards related to the nutrition department
• Acts as a member of the hospital's Leadership Team
• Communicates relevant information to colleagues and collaborates with other members of the leadership team on nutrition department related projects and issues
• Participates in various hospital committees and or workgroups (e.g., infection control, the leadership team, and food services)
• Provides medical nutrition therapy to patients at the hospital
• Evaluates nutritional status of patients
• Develops, implements, and evaluates nutrition care plans based on needs and expectations of patients and the recovery team, current evidenced-based knowledge, and professional experience
• Updates and reviews annual nutrition plans
• Documents in the medical record as indicated
• Participates and serves as a member of the interdisciplinary recovery team
• Supervises and manages assigned staff. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, selecting and hiring potential employees, scheduling and assigning workload, establishing performance measures, evaluating work performance, providing feedback and guidance, recommending staff development and training, recommending personnel and disciplinary actions, scheduling and approving leave, ensuring assigned staff participate in mandatory training, ensuring members of the clinical nutrition department provide competent and efficient care
• Oversees the development of education programs and materials
• Counsels and trains consumers, staff, and families on nutrition principles, modified diet plans and food selection to support achievement of the best nutrition care of individuals
• Develops in-service training programs for staff on nutrition principles, therapeutic diets, and related subjects upon request
• Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in dietetics, food and nutrition, food systems management, food science, or a related field
• At least twenty-four months working as dietitian or nutrition work in a supervisory or leadership role
• Twelve months experience working at a facility serving people with psychiatric or intellectual developmental disabilities preferred

Licensure Requirements

• Current registration as a Dietitian (R.D or R.D.N.) with the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Licensure as a Dietitian (L.D.) with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of food and nutrition, food systems management, food science including normal and therapeutic nutrition
• Knowledge of food service standards and procedures, and food science principles
• Knowledge and skills in addressing nutrition needs related to population (i.e., persons with developmental disabilities, mental health and/or behavioral issues)
• Knowledge of common drug/nutrient interactions which impact nutritional status
• Knowledge and ability to perform management and administrative tasks
• Knowledge of federal program evaluation requirements
• Skills in providing nutrition care
• Skills in professional oral and written communication
• Skills in Medical Nutrition Therapy including assessment, counseling, planning, and evaluating interventions, such as lab data
• Skills in utilizing computer hardware and applicable software and how to electronically store files/documents on a computer
• Skills in interviewing
• Ability to counsel and train others in food and nutrition
• Ability to evaluate and communicate nutrition requirements
• Ability to develop and evaluate nutrition service plans and educational materials
• Ability to interact effectively with consumers, families, and staff
• Ability to work with various teams
• Ability to perform basic and complex math calculations
• Ability to interpret regulations, policies, and procedures
• Ability to implement new systems and procedures and evaluate their effectiveness

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, and numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Pay & Schedule

Salary range: $6,375.41 - $7,761.50 per month. Full-time, day shift position. This position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours and flexibility in work hours may be required. The position may also be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on maximum security locations.