New England HERC

This position supports the Gengras Center by planning food and nutrition programs, consulting with team members and parents on proper nutrition for students with a wide range of disabilities and medical needs. Coordinates all phases of nutrition care including nutrition assessment, care planning, monitoring, education and counseling of students within the Gengras Center setting. Areas of focus may be on promoting healthy eating habits, recommending dietary modifications, and managing a large caseload of special needs students. This position may also coordinate health services and implement health policies and procedures with the Center’s nurse and administration.

Coordinates the nutritional care of students in the Gengras Center.

• Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life. 
• Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling. 
• Advise students and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modifications, and food selection and preparation. 
• Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client. 
• Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation and quality standards. 
• Organize, develop, analyze, test, and prepare special meals such as low-fat, low-cholesterol and chemical-free meals. 
•  Demonstrate an awareness of the Center’s medical policies/procedures.
• Develop policies for food service or nutritional programs to assist in health promotion and disease control. 
• Inspect meals served for conformance to prescribed diets and standards of palatability and appearance. 
• Advise food service managers and organizations on sanitation, safety procedures, menu development, budgeting, and planning to assist with the establishment, operation, and evaluation of food service facilities and nutrition programs.

School Food Pantry:

• Secure annual Stop & Shop pantry funding – complete and submit renewal application.
• Coordinate supplemental staff food drives.
• Work with School Staff to identify families experiencing food insecurity.
• Communicate directly with families on food preferences or specific dietary requirements or requests.
• Purchasing, stocking, organizing, and distribution of food.
• Tracking distribution frequency.

Support the instructional process/program for Gengras students, USJ students, and staff.

• Assisting professionals with building and maintaining effective instructional teams. 
• Attending all transdisciplinary team meetings and actively participating in the process.
• Assisting professionals with maintaining learner-centered, supportive environments.
• Assisting professionals with planning and organizing learning experiences.
• Assisting with the development/preparation of learning materials/instructional resources and the environment.
• Assisting with direct instruction and learner needs, progress, and achievements.
• Plan and conduct training programs in dietetics and nutrition for USJ students, health-care personnel and Gengras staff.
• Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.

Supervising students for school related activities as assigned, including participating in community outings/worksites and extracurricular activities.

• Support The Gengras Center as a school and as a program:
• Provide substitute coverage, within the scope of practices outlined above, in the absence of the RN.
• Participate in all in-service and program development workshops and continue to grow professionally.
• Participate actively on school committees.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Center’s policies/procedures. 

Perform other duties assigned by the Director, Assistant Director, teachers or related services staff, as indicated within the Gengras Center’s development plan, or as required by the student’s Individualized Education Plan and Individualized Health Care Plans.

Education & Experience

• Current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), and Connecticut State Licensure is required. 
• Master’s Degree in Dietetics, or Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a pediatric setting is preferred. 
• Previous experience in working with children with special needs is preferred.

Other Qualifications

• Demonstrate skills in flexibility, confidentiality and sound decision making.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to function independently while operating effectively within a team environment.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to communicate comfortably with students, colleagues, and external constituents.
• Professional, courteous demeanor and appearance; ability to work professionally with students, faculty, staff and administration and represent The Gengras Center professionally to the public.
• Commitment to the mission of The Gengras Center and the University of Saint Joseph.
• Possess solid general computer skills, including ability to work in a Windows environment.  
• Familiarity with specific applications used by the University/Department a plus.
• Availability to work during the summer program, as needed.
• Physical ability to perform essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.