Activities Director

SUMMARY: The primary purpose of the position is to plan, organize, and direct a program of activities which provides opportunity for entertainment, exercise, relaxation, and expression and fulfills basic psychological, social, and spiritual needs which will be available to all residents of the facility.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Adherence to Policies

·         Must show courtesy and respect to other employees, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies, the general public, etc.

·         Maintain good personal hygiene and dress and groom appropriately.

• Report on time as scheduled and follow all company policies and procedures. 

• Attend staff meetings and in-service sessions.

• Become thoroughly familiar with emergency procedures.

• Must be able to perform duties in a timely fashion, and within the prescribed sequences and schedules.

·         Must be cooperative with other departments and be courteous and respectful in dealing with them at all times.

·         Participate in and respond professionally to surveys (inspections) conducted by government agencies.

Administrative Duties include

·         Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to carry out the duties of this department.

·         Take responsibility for the department using knowledge of long-term care.

·         Show leadership skills and the ability to lead an motivate others.

·         Supervise and coordinate department, supporting and enabling it to function at the highest standard of performance.

·         Act as a liaison between departments and shifts to ensure cooperation, efficiency, mutual respect and teamwork.

·         Complete paperwork requirements on schedule and in an accurate, appropriate manner with attention to detail.

·         Maintain all activity related records required by regulations and Medical Records Department – activity assessment, progress notes, and discharge summary. 

·         Ensure that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service. 

·         Maintain all records and reports to be filed with corporate offices.

·         Maintain good public relations and good interdepartmental relations.

·         Demonstrate loyalty to the health care profession, the facility and to the management.

·         Focus the combined expertise and effort of all the committees, consultants, physicians, other professionals and staff to ensure maximum quality of environment, medical treatment, comfort, dignity and life for each resident.

Activities Coordinator Duties include

·         Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the activity programs of the facility. 

·         Oversee day-to-day activities of residents in the facility

·         Organize and coordinate special outings. 

·         Initiate and promote activities both within the facility and outside the facility and stimulate resident interests and well-being. 

·         Regulate programs in accordance with residents’ capabilities, needs, and interests.  Coordinates the transport of residents to and from the activity room as required. 

·         Arrange for transportation for outings. 

Staffing Duties include

·         Recommend to supervisor the number and level of activity staff to be employed. 

·         Participate in the recruitment, interviewing and selection of staff for the department.

·         Schedule department work hours, staff, work assignments, etc. to expedite work.   

·         Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the activity department’s needs and assign a sufficient number of activity staff. Review and check competence of activity staff and provide for additional training as required. 

·         Make adjustments as required or that may become necessary based upon staff competencies. 

·         Make daily rounds to assure that activity staff are performing required duties and to assure that appropriate activity programs are being provided to meet resident needs and according to the activity department schedule/calendar of events. 

Training and Development Duties include

·         Train groups of volunteers and students in techniques of recreation and therapy. 

·         Attend and participate in educational activities, in-service training, and staff meetings.

·         May conduct in-service training of other staff members, review their assessments and program goals, and consult with them on selected cases. 

·         Participate in general orientation program for new employees to orient participants to the department. 

·         Ensure that new employees of the department have a thorough understanding of department policies and procedure and of his/her job position and duties.

Patient Care

·         Be personally involved with all aspects of resident care to the extent necessary to assess its quality.

·         Respect all resident rights, including the confidentiality of resident care information.

·         Report immediately to the proper legal authorities if you have reason to believe a resident has been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, or been a victim of theft of their personal property.

·         Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and love, giving the resident the quality of service you would want to receive personally.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

·         Sufficient knowledge and experience in long-term care

·         Two (2) years’ experience in a social or recreation program preferably in a long-term care setting within the last five (5) years.

·         Bachelor’s degree in related field may be required

Language Skills

·         Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform required duties.

·         Must be able to follow verbal and written instructions in English.

• Bi-lingual skills welcome

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Completion of orientation required by company policy.

·         Health screening and TB test (if required) within two weeks of employment.

·         Mandatory drug test upon hire.

·         Must be free of criminal activity proven by a criminal background check.

·         Become familiar with and comply to all local, state, and federal regulations relating to the job.

·         Show within three (3) days of hire satisfactory evidence of identity and eligibility for employment.

·         Be efficient with computer skills and typing, including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and email.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

·         Frequently move about the facility and activities/events

·         Must be able to rapidly assist in the evacuation of all residents from the building in case of emergency.

Work Environment

·         May be asked to work beyond normal working hours and must have flexibility and willingness to work holidays, etc.

·         Must work in an office and other areas of the facility as needed.

·         Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.

·         May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the Aids and Hepatitis B viruses.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.