Nutrition Assistant I

Job Description

Announcement type: Open to the public.

Nature of Work
This is para-professional nutrition services work assisting nutritionists in providing clinical services to low risk, low income clients especially at maternity or pediatric primary health care clinics such as the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Clinic. An employee in this class performs routine technical support functions and works under the close supervision of a professional nutritionist following established guidelines and protocols.

Illustrative Examples of Work
Assists and may conduct group or individual education sessions to low risk clients on basic nutrition practices; demonstrates healthful methods of food preparation, meal planning and economical practices for food purchasing; assists in preparing and implementing nutrition education lesson plans and materials to fit the ethnicity, language, reading level and food habits of the target population. Conducts assessments by obtaining client information on nutrition or dietary habits according to established guidelines and may determine the program eligibility of clients according to established residency, client category, income and nutrition risk standards; refers clients with health, nutrition or dietary problems to a nutritionist for individual counseling; weighs and measures clients using standard guidelines for anthropometric measurement and identifies potential nutritional risk. Prepares appropriate records for documenting client's preliminary assessment data, nutrition services contacts, and pertinent medical and/or personal information. Assists with clinic administrative duties such as appointment scheduling, transportation arrangement, and client referrals; assesses and facilitates the client's potential eligibility and need for other public health nutrition assistance and/or services.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills
Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of applied nutrition. Knowledge of family meal planning, food purchasing, food preparation, and budgeting. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to work effectively with the public and employees. Ability to perform arithmetic computations. Ability to use a personal computer and other office equipment. Skill in client interviewing, weighing and measuring clients, and recording information accurately. Skill in the safe operation of a motor vehicle.

Minimum Experience and Training
One year of responsible public contact work in nutrition services or equivalent work that provides the minimum knowledge, abilities, and skills; gradation from High School, and either:
a) One year of experience in institutional meal planning and preparation (i.e., in hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, nursing homes, day care centers, etc.); or
b) Successful completion of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) training course; or
c) Successful completion of a course in nutrition creditable towards a two-year associate degree as a dietetic technician, nutrition assistant, nursing assistant or other allied health field; or
d) Successful completion of an undergraduate course in nutrition at an accredited college or university.

Minimum Education
All new employment in the service of the government of Guam shall have, as a reasonable measure of job performance, minimum requirement of a high school diploma or a successful completion of General Education Development (GED) test or any equivalent of a general education high school program, apprenticeship program or successful completion of a certification program, from a recognized, accredited or certified vocational technical institution, in a specialized field required for the job, pursuant to Public Law 29-113.

Necessary Special Qualifications
A) Must possess a valid driver's license.