Address
Form of workJOB 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
Activity Functions
Care Plan and Assessment Functions
Committee Functions
Personnel Functions
Staff Development Functions
Safety and Sanitation Functions
Equipment and Supply Functions
Resident Rights Responsibilities
Working Conditions
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Education
Experience
Specific Requirements
Physical and Sensory Requirements (with or without the aid of mechanical devices)
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, el...
