JOB
SUMMARY:
The primary purpose of the Activity Director position is to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the Activity Department. JOB
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administrative Functions · Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the activity programs of this facility. · Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures. · Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator. · Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes. · Develop and maintain policies and procedures for the identification of medically related activity needs of the resident. · Refer resident/family to appropriate social service personnel when necessary. · Refer resident/families to appropriate business office personnel as to Medicare/Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs when necessary. · Give assistance or help in locating and arranging for services of other professionals or agencies to solve problems and needs of residents. · Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services needs of the residents and families. · Prepare and present monthly report on progress of activity program. · Develop, implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the activity department.
Activity Functions · Organize programs for group and individual activities based on residents’ individualized needs as identified in residents’ health care plans. · Maintain a balance of recreational activities including physical, social, religious, diversional, spiritual, intellectual, and creative arts and crafts. · Communicate residents’ programs to residents, residents’ families, volunteers, and facility staff. Communication may occur through posting of a large monthly calendar in centralized locations within the building and circulation of copies of the monthly calendar. · Offer activities at hours convenient to the residents and that reflect the overall demographics of the resident population. · Provide motivation for participation in Residents’ Council and scheduled a time and place for meetings. · Ensure group activities are scheduled to provide for maximum involvement by interested residents. · Select residents for activity participation according to each resident’s activity interest, needs and potential. · Involve residents and families in planning facility activity programs. · Coordinate scheduled activities with other departments. · Assist in arranging transportation to outside activities when necessary. · Help read incoming mail, and address and post outgoing mail upon the residents’ requests. · Responsible for transportation of residents within the facility from one area to another where activities are occurring. · Recruit, orientate, and supervise volunteers and maintain records of volunteer programs. · Communicate the facility’s volunteer needs to the community. · Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and arrange for the use of community facilities by residents.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions · Interview residents/families on admission and involve them in determining appropriate activities for the resident. · Formulate written plans of care for each admitted resident. · Review and update plan of care according to established policies. · Record continuing progress notes on resident’s activities and response of resident to activity program. · Record resident’s activity participation in resident’s individual medical record. Keep group records of participation on scheduled activities. · Record Section I of the MDS, activity pursuits portion and resident’s activity interest and activity needs assessment. After completing the MDS, record resident’s initial activities-health-care plan. · Identify and evaluate personal, emotional, and environmental concerns that prevent or limit the resident’s full use of medical, nursing, and restorative care. · Recognize abnormal signs and symptoms, which may signify a physical change in the resident’s condition that could require nursing intervention. Report changes to the charge nurse. · Participate in discharge planning; development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments.
Committee Functions · Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as required or appointed by the Administrator. · Provide written and/or oral reports of the activities programs as directed by such committees. · Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans. · Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to activity services. · Meet with activity personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the department, assist in identify and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. · Attend department head meetings as scheduled.
Personnel Functions · Assist in the recruitment, interviewing and selection of personnel for the activity department. · Determine departmental staffing needs necessary to meet the activity programming needs and assign activity personnel and/or volunteers for each scheduled activity. · Schedule department work hours, personnel, work assignments, etc. to expedite work. · Delegate responsibility and accountability to other activity personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties. · Counsel/discipline activity personnel as necessary. · Recommend termination of employment to the Administrator if necessary. · Review and check competence of activity personnel and make adjustments as necessary. · Make daily rounds to assure that activity personnel are performing required duties as assigned. · Conduct individual performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.
Staff Development Functions · Develop, implement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients new associates to the activities department and its programs. · Develop and participate in the planning, scheduling and conducting of timely in-service training classes that ensures a well-educated activity department. · Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in developing and conducting inservice training programs that relate to resident activities and the activity department.
Safety and Sanitation Functions · Assist in developing safety standards for the activity department. · Follow established safety regulations, to include fire protection/prevention, smoking regulations, infection control, etc. · Monitor department personnel to assure they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies. · Ensure that department work and activity areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe manner. · Ensure that departmental personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner. · Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation techniques relative to activities. · Implement and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among residents and personnel as it relates to activity programming. · Ensure that all procedures governing reporting hazardous conditions, exposure to blood/body fluids, use of labels and MSDS sheets, and blood borne pathogens are followed.
Equipment and Supply Functions · Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the activity department.
· Maintain adequate activity supplies and equipment to meet needs and interests of residents, ensure materials are available to residents. · Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary. · Make periodic rounds to check equipment to assure that it is in proper working condition. · Check supply rooms to assure that needed activity supplies and on hand to conduct scheduled activities. · Develop and implement procedures that ensure activity supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste. · Ensure that appropriate cleaning supplies are on hand to perform necessary departmental cleaning functions. · Budget and Planning Functions · Forecast needs of the department · Assist in preparing and planning the activity department’s budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor and submit to the Administrator for review. · Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request. · Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement.
Resident Rights Responsibilities · Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information. · Knock before entering a resident’s room. · Ensure that all activity personnel are knowledgeable of the resident’s rights and responsibilities, including the right of refusal. · Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what actions were taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint following established facility procedures. · Participate in resident council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.
Working Conditions · Works in office areas as well as throughout the facility. · Moves intermittently during work hours. · Is subject to frequent interruptions. · Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, under all conditions and circumstances. · Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors. · Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel and other department supervisors. · Works beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary. Works on weekends and holidays when necessary. · Is subject to callback during emergency conditions. · Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, plastics, synthetics, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other potential contaminants. · Attends and participates in continuing educational programs. · Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses. · May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals. · Maintains a liaison with the resident, their families, support departments, etc. to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.
JOB
REQUIREMENTS:
Education · Must possess, as a minimum, a High School Diploma or GED. · A two-year or higher degree in therapeutic recreation, social work, or related degree is preferred.
Experience · Must be directed by a qualified professional who is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist or an activities professional who- · Must be licensed or registered, if applicable by the state which practicing; and · Must be Eligible for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or as an activities professional by a recognized accrediting body on or after October 1 1990; or · Has (2) years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last (5) years, one of which was full-time in a therapeutic activities program; or · Must be a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or · Must have completed a training course approved by the state.
Specific Requirements · Must be a member in good standing in the National Association of Social Workers. · Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. · Must display professionalism both in appearance and attitude. · Must possess the ability to solve problems and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action. · Must genuinely care for and understand the elderly and disabled. · Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agency personnel and the general public. · Must possess the ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and to coach and supervise other personnel. · Must be able to plan, organize, develop, implement and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures that are necessary for providing social services. · Must have patience, tact, a positive disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult people. · Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activities practices. · Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition. · Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Physical and Sensory Requirements (with or without the aid of mechanical devices) · Must be able to move continuously throughout the workday. · Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. · Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met. · Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, families, personnel, and support agencies. · Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which may include a medical and physical examination. · Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile people within the facility. · Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 10 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 5 feet. · May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations. · Sitting: 1-2 hour per 8-hour shift. Alternates frequently to standing and walking. · Standing: 4-5 hours per 8-hour shift. Alternates frequently to walking and occasionally to sitting. · Walking: 2-3 hours per 8 hour shift. Alternates frequently to standing and occasionally to sitting. · Lifting: 1-10 lbs. Continuously 11-20 lbs. Occasionally 21-35 lbs. Rarely 36-50 lbs. Rarely 51-75 lbs. Rarely · > 75 lbs. Rarely · Carrying: 1-10 lbs. Continuously · 11-20 lbs. Rarely · 21-35 lbs. Rarely · Driving: Rarely · Pushing: Continuously · Bending: Occasionally · Squatting: Rarely · Kneeling: Rarely · Crawling: Rarely · Climbing: Rarely · Reaching: Occasionally · Grasping: Occasionally · Fine Manipulation: Continuously
(Frequency: Never=0%; Rarely=1-10%; Occasionally=11=33%; Frequently = 34-66%; Continuously = 67%+) Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.