Position overview
The Nutrition Department is primarily responsible for the management of core functions and provision of Nutrition based allied health services within Canberra Health Services. Services include.
- Clinical Dietetic Services to:
- Inpatients on the University of Canberra Hospital and Canberra Hospital Campuses including the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and the Adult Mental Health Unit
- Outpatients requiring specialist care from the ACT and regional NSW
- Operation of centralised Special Diet Service
- Operation of Infant Feeding Service
- Coordination of Canberra Health Services Clinical Education Program for Nutrition and Dietetic students from various local universities
- Food Service governance activities in partnership with the Canberra Hospital Food Service Department
Under supervision, you will provide food service dietetic expertise and clinical dietetic services as required across the Canberra Health Services and contribute to service improvement and quality improvement/quality assurance activities of the department.
This position is required to work flexibly across services, locations and programs including participating in an after-hours roster, including potential for weekend and public holiday work and on-call duty.
Key Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Under the direction of the Nutrition Manager, you will perform the following role. You will:
- Provide food service dietetic expertise to ensure a high level of food and nutrition services are provided to the patients of Canberra Health Services, including the University of Canberra Hospital. Provide appropriate assessment and interventions using established principles, techniques and methods with support.
- Promote positive client outcomes through the provision of high-quality clinical and food services, networking, health promotion activities and education in/across designated areas as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Complete clinical and administrative data collection and evaluation to standard.
- Participate in education programs and contribute to teaching and training for areas of clinical and food service delivery.
- Participate in team and program related service activities as required.
- Participate in implementation of clinical governance activity, quality improvement projects, research programs, and health promotion in areas relevant to service.
- Participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
- Ability to apply highly developed knowledge of nutrition principles, including food service, in the provision of dietetic care and food service to health consumers.
- Collaborate within and across teams effectively to provide coordinated patient care.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development, clinical supervision, and the performance management process.
- Ability to communicate appropriately with various stakeholders, liaise with service providers to facilitate effective and efficient service provision and translate complex information to health consumers.
- Displays professional, management, problem solving and organisational skills in the practice of nutrition and dietetics.
- Demonstrates ethical and legal practice requirements in line with local standards and policies.
- Demonstrates professional conduct and works within the professions scope of practice.
Qualifications
Essential
- Hold an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Eligible for membership of the Dietitians Association of Australia, and eligible to hold Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) credential.
- Hold a current Drivers Licence
- Be available for weekend and after-hours work.
Desirable
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience working professionally in clinical nutrition and dietetics, including experience in food service.
Desirable
- Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.
- Knowledge of food service models and systems and nutrition provision in acute and sub-acute care facilities.
- High level nutrition skills and knowledge in clinical dietetics pertaining to inpatient and outpatient nutrition care.
Prior to commencement
Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:
- Pre-employment National Police Check.
- Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
- Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
- Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
- Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of food service systems and models for the provision of nutrition care within acute and sub-acute healthcare settings, including the use of electronic food service management systems. Underpinned by a high level of clinical nutrition and dietetic knowledge, with the ability to apply evidence-based practice to support safe, effective and patient-centred nutrition care.
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience in quality improvement activities such as clinical governance, research or nutrition service delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to provide professional supervision and/or training to staff and students.
- Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills and demonstrated ability to liaise with stakeholders in the provision of high-level food and nutrition services.
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays’ behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Occasionally |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Frequently |
| Standing for long periods | Occasionally |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Occasionally |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Occasionally |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Occasionally |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Never |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Never |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Frequently |
| Working outdoors | Occasionally |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Never |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Occasionally |
| Kneeling | Never |
| Foot and leg movement | Occasionally |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Occasionally |
| Bending/squatting | Occasionally |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Occasionally |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Occasionally |
| Frequent travel – driving | Occasionally |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Never |
| Excessive noise | Never |
| Low lighting | Never |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Never |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: Community Health and Integrated Care
Business Unit: Nutrition and Dietetics
Position number: 40209
Position title: Food Service Dietitian
Classification: Health Professional Level 3
Location: Canberra Health Services, ACT
Reporting relationships:
Manager: Manager of Nutrition, Senior Dietitian
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind