The Activity Director is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, and directing the overall operation of the Activity Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local regulations and our established policies and procedures. The Activity Director will be held accountable and responsible for the decision making and must assure that an ongoing program of activities is designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
A. Role Responsibilities -
Job Knowledge/Duties:
1. Participates in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments 2. Interviews resident/families as necessary and in a private setting 3. Performs administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required 4. Involves residents in planning facility activity programs 5. Assists in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished 6. Reviews and develops a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Administrator 7. Participates in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies 8. Ensures that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service 9. Involves the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident care planning 10. Meets with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in order to coordinate and plan activity programs 11. Arranges transportation for field trips when necessary 12. Checks supply rooms to assure that needed activity supplies are on hand to conduct scheduled activities 13. Purchases department supplies, clothing and personal items for the residents 14. Schedules movies, plan parties, and provide games/activities for residents 15. Encourages residents to participate in hobbies and crafts. Provide materials as necessary 16. Supervises activities as necessary 17. Develops and maintains an activity schedule 18. Provides reading materials in braille, tapes, and records as necessary Activity Director 2 19. Makes routine visits to residents and perform assistance with crafts, projects, etc., as necessary 20. Assists bed residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making appointments, etc., as necessary 21. Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator B. Role and Responsibilities - Administrative Duties 1. Supervises, trains, counsels, disciplines, evaluates, and develops the activity department 2. Assists in the recruitment, interviewing, selection, and termination of personnel for the activity department 3. Assumes administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability of supervising the Activity Department 4. Assists in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies 5. Develops, implements, and maintains an ongoing quality assurance program for the activity department 6. Makes written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the activity department and adjustments in activity programs 7. Determines departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the activity department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of activity personnel for each tour of duty 8. Schedules department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work and stay within budget 9. Attends all department meetings, in-services, and on-the-job training 10. Ensures that all department personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes, safety regulations, and infection control 11. Develops and implements procedures that ensure activity supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste 12. Assists in preparing and planning the activity department's budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval 13. Participates in resident/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council C. Role and Responsibilities - Interpersonal Skills 1. Is aware of, and adheres to, Resident's Bill of Rights and Confidentiality of Resident Information 2. Interacts with resident and family members, co-workers, clinical and ancillary staff in non-judgmental, supportive and calm manner 3. Addresses resident and family satisfaction issues and or concerns immediately by reporting them to the Supervisor in a professional manner 4. Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning 5. Is aware of the Resident Abuse Reporting Law 6. Participates as assigned in the orientation of new staff and demonstrates a positive, helpful and enthusiastic attitude 7. Maintains a productive working relationship with other department directors Activity Director 3 D. Role and Responsibilities - Safety 1. Uses facility equipment safely and follows established safety regulations 2. Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner 3. Demonstrates ability to locate emergency equipment (i.e. fire extinguisher) 4. Understands, and demonstrates, knowledge of role in Fire and Disaster drills 5. Demonstrates ability to identify and respond appropriately to potential behavioral outbursts. 6. Recognizes, removes, and/or reports potential hazards 7. Monitors activities personnel to assure they are following established safety regulations E. Role Responsibilities - Infection Control 1. Reports occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents 2. Ensures that appropriate protective clothing/devices are readily available for handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids 3. Ensures that activities personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary 4. Demonstrates proper hand-washing techniques and ensure all activities personnel follow established hand-washing procedures 5. Disposes of waste properly and ensures that activities personnel follow established policies governing the use/disposal of personal protective equipment, and disposal of infectious wastes F. Role Responsibilities - Resident Care/Dignity 1. Maintains the confidentiality of all resident care information 2. Addresses residents in a respectful manner and knocks before entering a resident's room 3. Knowledgeable of the resident's rights and responsibilities, including the right of refusal and ensures personnel are compliant with all rules regarding residents' rights 4. Maintains a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
1. Must be high school graduate 2. Must have certificate of completion for the Activity Director Course 3. Experience in a social or recreation program within the last 5 years 4. Must be able to read, write and speak the English language 5. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public 6. Must be knowledgeable of activities practices and procedures as well as the laws, regulations and guidelines governing activities functions in the long-term care facility 7. Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices 8. Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel 9. Must be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up 10. Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility Activity Director 4 PHYSICAL
REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS
1. Must be capable of performing the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations 2. Must meet health assessment requirements, including a two-stage Mantoux skin test 3. Must be able to move intermittently during working hours 4. Must be able to push/pull/lift and carry 40 pounds 5. Must be able to grasp and have fine motor coordination 6. Must be able to hear (with or without aid) 7. Must be able to reach, stoop, kneel, bend and lift 8. Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.) 9. Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants. 10. Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses 11. May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals 12. May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situation
