Dietitian

The Dietitian works as part of a multidisciplinary health services team serving First Nations of the Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band, Peerless Trout First Nation, Whitefish Lake First Nation and Woodland Cree First Nation. As part of the KTC Nikan Kakike Awasisak Team (Child First Team), and in collaboration with Nation community health centres/service providers, the dietitian provides support to children, youth and their families regarding healthy eating, meal preparation, social benefits of family eating, as part of a comprehensive approach to overall health and wellness. The Dietitian also supports food security initiatives and planning. The dietitian will practice from a two-eyed seeing approach incorporating an understanding of traditional foods, impacts of colonization on diet and health paired with clinical knowledge from a western perspective.

Responsibilities

• Improve client health outcomes through client-based nutrition services:
o Support children with special needs (specialized medical diet, feeding/swallowing concerns, etc) with nutritional assessments, recommendation, and support.
o Provide innovative & effective information or knowledge sharing from an Indigenous perspective using relevant resources such as the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Food Guide.
o Create and share culturally and economically relevant resources on nutrition and meal planning for communities and families.
o Focus on family meal times as a traditional practice and a means of improving social wellness.
o Liaise with the multidisciplinary clinical team and provide nutritional expertise that focuses on nutrition as an important influence on the physical, mental, emotional and social health of individuals and families.
• Provide culturally informed clinical services through the following:
o Practice in a culturally competent manner and the use Indigenous ways of knowing when it comes to nutrition and food planning and preparation.
o Ensure that all program initiatives reflect the cultural values, traditions and customs of the Nation.
o Deliver effective services to families with genuine care and concern in an open and accepting manner.
o Effective communication and follow-up with clients to ensure the highest level of care.
o Maintain accurate health records and fulfill reporting requirements.
o Work in an integrated manner with the rest of the Nikan Kikake Awasisak Team and Nation-level services.
• Provide guidance and expertise on food security initiatives:
o Provide support to Head Start and Daycares with age and budget appropriate healthy menu planning and meal preparation.
o Provide support and guidance to Health Directors and other Nation staff on improving food security.
o Support food security initiatives run through KTC health, Nations, or other KTC organizations as requested.
o Support the Child Health Services Team with projects, initiatives and other duties as required.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

Required
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to provide holistic services that meet clients’ unique and diverse needs
• Willing, capable and flexible in working to meet the needs of clients.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Indigenous health care concerns and impacts colonialism has had, and continues to have, on Indigenous people.
• Ability to provide service from a trauma informed and Indigenous perspective.
• Minimum 1 year experience providing similar services in an Indigenous, northern, or remote context.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite programs (word, excel, outlook, etc)
Asset
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Cree culture and language.
• Lived experience.
• Previous experience working with Indigenous communities and/or clients.

Additional Requirements

• Possesses valid driver’s license and is able to provide a drivers abstract
• Submission of police information with vulnerable sector check and child intervention check
• Oath of confidentiality must be signed prior to commencing employment

Please Submit

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume to HealthHR@ktcadmin.ca