Yaletown House is a non profit care facility for seniors with complex care needs and is located in Vancouver, BC. We provide quality health care and services to 127 senior residents in a safe, supportive and home like environment.
Reporting to the Director, Resident Services (Director), and in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, policies and procedures and strategic directions of Yaletown House, the Dietitian is responsible for the provision of professional clinical dietetic and nutritional services in accordance and code of ethics as outlined by the College of Dietitians of BC (CDBC) within the context of a person-centered model of care.
The Dietitian is responsible for providing dietetic services to enable residents to achieve and maintain optimal nutritional health outcomes, by working independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Performs assessments on the residents nutritional needs, establishes dietetic diagnosis and prognosis, develops and implements nutritional care plans and intervention strategies, evaluates the effectiveness of the interventions, and communicates and consults with the resident/family and clinical team members on issues affecting the on-going nutritional care of the residents; assists in menu and recipe development. The Dietitian is also a clinical resource to the interdisciplinary team regarding clinical dietetic and nutritional care issues.
The Dietitian is also responsible for the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of the continuing clinical nutritional education programs to support and ensure quality standards are met, maintained and that the residents’ nutritional needs are met.
The Dietitian is an integral member of the Yaletown House interdisciplinary team and requires teamwork, communication and cooperation. It is the expectation that the individual in this position contributes to a positive, safe working environment, takes instruction well and cooperates with the Clinical Leadership Team and co-workers. This person must manage their time well and participate in meetings and education as required.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for providing professional clinical dietetic and nutritional services to support care home staff in providing quality nutritional services within the context of a person centered model of care.
• Coordinates the daily activities to support effective and efficient organizational systems to ensure a high standard of clinical dietetic and nutritional services that are in compliance with legislative and regulatory acts governing long term care and the care home standards and expectations.
• Acts as a clinical dietetic and nutritional resource to the interdisciplinary team, residents, families and other professionals.
• Conducts nutrition screening and assessments utilizing established standards and guidelines of the resident’s nutritional needs within the first 2-4 weeks of admission and thereafter quarterly, annually and whenever a referral is received.
• Assessments include assessing resident’s nutritional status, physical abilities, needs, and goals utilizing an evidence-based approach by methods such as reviewing records, gathering information, interviewing the resident, identifying resident and dietitian expectations, selecting and applying evidence-based assessment methods, administering standardized tests and measures, identifying the resident’s desired nutritional status and quality of life, and monitoring the residents health for significant change to ensure improvement in residents clinical dietetic and nutritional performance.
• Examinations and standardized tests and measures must include, but not limited to, chew and swallow examinations, evaluating food preferences and intolerances, ability to digest and absorb foods, and unintentional weight loss or gain.
• Based upon assessment and reassessments, develops and implements resident nutritional goals and care plans, utilizing appropriate standards as set by the College of Dietitians of BC, and incorporating resident’s diagnosis and prognosis and evidence-based and outcome-based intervention strategies. The care plans must also include resident’s needs; such as, cultural, religious, and food preferences.
• Evaluates and documents the effectiveness of the care plans, interventions and nutritional goals by methods such as conducting ongoing assessment and monitoring of resident responses, evaluating changes in health status, dietetic and nutritional performance against pre-determined goals and expected outcomes, and modifying the care plans and intervention strategies to achieve and maintain nutritional intake for the residents.
• Consults with the residents and/or family members, the physician, and the interdisciplinary team regarding the resident’s response to the nutritional care plan at each stage of the nutritional care process and makes recommendations for diet order changes and nutritional support regime as required.
• Identify nutritional risks and concerns and, in conjunction with the inter-disciplinary team, develop and/or revise nutritional care plans to address them.
• Documents nutritional assessments, care plans and resident status / progress in the resident’s electronic chart according to established format, policy, timelines and legal requirements.
• Receives referrals from the interdisciplinary team; gathers information from referral source/resident/other relevant persons, evaluates/screens information, visits residents to identify priority of service and recommends alternative treatment sources as required.
• Completes the clinical dietetic and nutritional sections in the RAI-MDS assessment upon admission, quarterly, annually and when there is a significant change.
• Communicates all nutritional changes to the Manager Clinical Practice and Manager of Support Service in a timely and appropriate manner so they can take appropriate actions in their departments.
• Communicates with other health care professionals to enhance and provide continuity of care for residents after discharge from hospital.
• Participates in interdisciplinary care conferences, special family care conferences and family counseling meetings, as required.
• Provide education to residents and their families, as appropriate, to enhance their knowledge about and compliance with interventions to enhance a resident’s nutritional status.
• In conjunction with the Manager Support Services, ensure the menu planning and rotating menus are reviewed for nutritional analysis to meet the nutrients required within the Canada Food Guide including the modified diets and textures.
• In conjunction with the Manager Support Services, ensure all texture modified diets are in compliance with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI).
• In conjunction with the Director assist in the development and continuous improvement of clinical nutritional service policies and procedures, regulatory and professional practice and policy standards, clinical nutritional guidelines, and reporting systems in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations and industry and care home standards and expectations. Ensure compliance by care home employees, where appropriate.
• Participates in program and strategic planning for areas of practice by communicating relevant information to the Director.
• Under the direction of the Director, supports the development and facilitation of staff education programs on nutrition topics to dietary and nursing staff. Education topics include, but not limited to: texture modification diets, dysphasia and safe feeding techniques. In collaboration with the Director, evaluate clinical nutritional services by reviewing resident satisfaction results, incident reports and complaints.
• Implements, evaluates and reports on all nutritional performance measures by collecting data and monitoring variances to expected outcomes to ensure compliance with Vancouver Coastal Health’s mandate and the Care Home’s Quality Improvement program. Provides the Director with requested data and trend analysis and makes recommendations based on documented results.
• Implement, evaluate and report on Nutritional and Food Service Audits in accordance with schedules set by the provincial standards or the care home.
• Actively participate in Food Advisory Committee and other meetings as requested by the Director.
• Maintain professional expertise by attendance at conferences, seminars, meetings and through internet searches to keep current in knowledge and trends of Healthcare and Long Term Care.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying the Director or other appropriate personnel.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduate of Dietitians of Canada accredited Dietetic Internship Program; and
• Minimum of two (2) years’ recent, experience as a clinical dietitian in a healthcare setting, preferably Long Term Care; or
• An equivalent education, training and experience as approved by the College of Dietitians of BC.
• Current active full registration with the College of Dietitians of BC (CDBC) and must have Restricted Activity A Certification with CDBC.

2. SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Demonstrated high standard and commitment to provide quality clinical dietetic and nutritional service within a resident centered model of care.
• Demonstrated ability to assess residents with multi-system nutritional problems and respond appropriately.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of clinical dietetic and nutritional service that support best practices in a health care environment, preferably Long Term Care.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of appropriate regulations, legislation, College of Dietitians of British Columbia standards of practices, provincial/national standards as applied in a long term care setting.
• Demonstrated clinical assessment skills and ability to evaluate the delivery of clinical nutritional service.
• Demonstrated sensitivity and a passion for meeting the needs of the elderly and an ability to interact with residents, families and members of the community.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and planning skills including the ability to effectively manage time, responsibilities, and multiple priorities and schedules to meet required deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and manage short and long term plans and projects and deliver organizational focused results.
• Demonstrated ability and comfort with decision making responsibilities, coaching and teaching, and the ability to inspire and build confidence in others.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement and promote harmonious, open, honest and respectful working relationships with the leadership team and interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with others as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to communication effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with (both verbally and in writing), and to deal effectively with co-workers, physicians, other health care professionals, residents and their families, and external agencies.
• bility to operate related equipment including related software applications.
• Physical and mental ability to perform the duties of the position and cope with the job related stresses.

This is a Health Sciences Association Union position.
Work Remotely

• No

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: $40.75-$50.87 per hour
Expected hours: 24 per week
Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift

Work Location: In person