Primary Care Registered Dietitian and Group Facilitator – 0.5 or up to full-time - Hamilton FHT (Hamilton)

Job Description:
Together, we do amazing things every day.
Imagine a supportive employer, a career that fits your lifestyle, and many learning opportunities. With the Hamilton Family Health Team, you can have all of that, and more. We work hard to create an innovative and diverse workplace that values the contributions of our employees. No matter what your role, working with us is about making a difference – every day!

Your Opportunity:
Two distinct Registered Dietitian roles exist that will support the Hamilton Family Health Team’s (HFHT) efforts to expand team-based care in Hamilton and the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN).

0.5 of the role is spent working as a registered dietitian for unaffiliated physicians (not currently part of the HFHT), completing individual nutrition assessments, developing nutrition care plans, and providing nutrition counselling for the management of conditions commonly seen in family practice (including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, disordered eating, bariatric care, and other medical needs). You will work collaboratively with other health professionals to provide comprehensive, accessible primary health care, honouring patient choice in how best care will be delivered (in-person, telephone, video). The primary work location for this role will be with an interprofessional team at a HFHT hub location in Hamilton, however this is subject to change based on patient and unaffiliated physician needs.

The other 0.5 of this role will be spent supporting the expansion of HFHT groups, working as a group facilitator and content developer for groups for patients who self-refer or who are referred by their health care team. These groups will be a combination of virtual groups, and in-person facilitated groups across the Hamilton region, with the possibility of periodic in-person offerings in the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN) region. These roles may be combined into 1 position or shared among 2 positions.

As a Registered Dietitian supporting unaffiliated physicians, you will:

• Provide medical nutrition therapy for chronic disease management and prevention identifying nutrition problems, assessing nutritional status of patients, developing nutrition care plans and evaluate and monitoring effectiveness of nutrition interventions
• Conduct comprehensive nutrition assessments identifying stages of change, socio-economic and cultural factors impacting health behaviours
• Utilize appropriate counselling techniques including motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior therapy.
• Communicate nutrition care plans and debrief with primary care team members as needed
• Ensure ongoing nutritional care by maintaining complete and accurate client records, assessment notes and required correspondence, and by monitoring client progress on a regular basis.
• Safeguard client records and assure confidentiality of client information.
• Identify opportunities for quality improvement for nutrition services and interdisciplinary work.
• Work together within RD group to create resources to enhance patient access to timely, evidence-based primary care nutrition.
• Co-design the development of processes to attach new unaffiliated physicians and their patients to these services.
• Maintain professional competence through participation in professional development activities and maintaining license to practice.
• Comply with all relevant HFHT policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Other duties as required.

As a Registered Dietitian supporting the expansion of groups, you will:

• Facilitate/co-facilitate groups with other staff of the FHT, including collaborating with others to develop new curriculum.
• Provide medical nutrition therapy for chronic disease management and prevention identifying nutrition problems, assessing nutritional status of patients
• Support health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management
• Complete accurate client records and required correspondence with patient care teams as appropriate. Safeguard client records and assure confidentiality of client information.
• Co-design the development of processes to support HFHT groups and attach new unaffiliated physicians and their patients.
• Maintain professional competence through participation in professional development activities and maintaining license to practice.
• Comply with all relevant HFHT policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 4-year Bachelor of Science or Applied Science degree, majoring in Nutritional Sciences or Human Nutrition (or equivalent); completion of Dietitians of Canada accredited Dietetic Internship program or combined Master’s and Dietetic Internship program
• Good standing with the College of Dietitians of Ontario and possess professional liability insurance.
• Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and Second language are an asset
• Minimum 2-3 years in a community based or clinical health service organization.
• Ability to provide medical nutrition therapy for a wide variety of issues commonly seen in family practice.
• A good understanding of nutrition interventions for chronic disease management and evidence-based nutrition best practices
• Excellent interpersonal, nutrition counseling, and group facilitation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent time-management, documentation, and organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary health care team, provide nutrition leadership and maintain excellent working relationships.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters.
• Ability and interest in preceptoring dietetic interns and Master students
• Familiarity with requirements of the College of Dietitians of Ontario, Regulated Health Professional Act 1991, Scope of Practice per The Dietetics Act 1991, and privacy legislation.
• High level of competency with computers and information technology
• Respects and values the diversity of communities and individuals.

The ideal RD candidate is an intuitive, adaptable, self-directed health professional with a passion for their work and a strong commitment to providing and improving team-based patient care.