Activities Director

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Primary Purpose of this Position

The primary purpose of this position is to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the activities department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations, established facility
policies and procedures and as directed by the Administrator.

Hiring following Position:

• Activities Director
• Full-Time Position

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the activities programs of this facility to meet the individual and person-centered needs of the residents.
• Develop recreational activities opportunities that are appropriate to the resident population and individualized to resident needs.
• Review department policies and procedures at least annually and participate in making recommended changes.
• Coordinate community outreach and seek out recreational partnerships that are representative of the interests of the residents.
• Perform administrative requirements such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required.
• Coordinate with transportation services for activities outings and as necessary to meet the individual needs of the residents.
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations as well as professional standards of practice and make recommendations on changes in facility policies and procedures to the Administrator.
• Review departmental policies and job descriptions at least annually or as required.
• Assume the authority, responsibility and accountability of directing the activities department.
• Contribute to the development of departmental budgets and workforce allocations in accordance with the budget.
• Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.
• Work with the facility’s activities consultant and implement recommended changes as required.
• Provide reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operations of the activities department.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.
• Review and develop a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Administrator.
• Assist the Infection Preventionist in identifying, evaluating and classifying routine and job-related activities functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken; follow facility’s established procedures.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Document all activities participation, progress notes and care plan revisions in accordance with facility policies and best practices.
• 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 a reference library of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations and that will provide assistance in maintaining a quality activities program.

Committee Functions

• Serve on, participate in and attend various committees of the facility as appointed by the Administrator.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to activity services.
• Serve as a member of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee.

Care Plan and Assessment Function

• Coordinate the activities portion of the Minimum Data Set (MDS).
  Participate in resident assessments and the development and implementation of activity care plans.
• Interview residents and their responsible party to obtain resident history of interests, hobbies and recreational pursuits.
• Help develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.
• Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of the resident’s plan of care.
• Assist in the scheduling of activity assessments and care plans.
• Ensure that all activities personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily activities for the resident.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review nurses’ notes to determine if the activity care plan is being followed; report problem areas to
the Director of Nursing.
Review and revise care plans and assessments quarterly and as required by guidance in the current
MDS Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual.

Personnel Functions

• Assist in the recruiting, interviewing and selection of personnel for the activities department.
• Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the activities department needs and assign a sufficient number of activities personnel for each tour of duty; make recommendations to the Administrator on activities staffing.
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work.
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility and accountability to other activities personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Counsel/discipline activities personnel as requested or as necessary.
• Terminate employment of personnel when necessary; document and coordinate such actions with the Director of Human Resources and/or the Administrator.
• Review and check competence of activities personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary.
• Make daily rounds to assure that activities personnel are performing required duties and to assure that appropriate activities programs are being rendered to meet the needs of the resident.
• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Staff Development Functions

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting and scheduling of in-service training classes for the activities department.
• Develop, implement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures and to his/her job position and duties.
• Ensure all department personnel attend and participate in mandatory facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), tuberculosis (TB), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), abuse prevention, etc.).

Safety and Sanitation Functions

• Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary and safe manner.
• Ensure all department personnel follow established safety policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure that department personnel participate in all Life Safety Code and emergency preparedness and response drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Ensure that safety data sheets (SDSs) are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the activities department.
• Ensure that activities personnel follow established infection prevention and control procedures.
• Develop, implement and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the activities department.
• Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available, working properly and being operated safely; assure all necessary supplies are available 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

• Assist in preparing and planning the activities department’s budget for food, equipment, supplies and labor and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations and approval.
• Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary.
• Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement.

Resident Rights Functions

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information (PHI); report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
• Ensure that all activities 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 action(s) was taken to resolve the complaint or grievance; follow facility’s established procedures.
• Participate in resident/group 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 working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and
  circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing services and other department directors.
• Works beyond normal working hours on weekends and in other positions temporarily when necessary.
• Is subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing education programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the day as well as to reactions from dust,
  disinfectants, tobacco smoke and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B
  viruses.
• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for resident activities.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Education/Experience

• Must possess, as a minimum, two (2) year(s) of college. Degree preferred but not necessary.
• Must be a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist or an activities professional who is licensed by the state and is
  eligible for certification as a recreation specialist or as an activities professional; or
• Must have, as a minimum, two (2) year(s) experience in a social or recreation program within the last five (5) years,
  one (1) of which was full-time in a patient activities program in a health care setting; 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 able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must be knowledgeable of regulations governing activity services in nursing care facilities.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• 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.
• Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activity services.
• Must be a member in good standing in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and Academy of Certified
  Social Workers (ACSW).
• 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 intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so 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,
  personnel and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and
  physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with 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 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to
  push, pull, move and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.