Activities Assistant

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Description

Work Unit Overview: The Activities Assistant assists the Director of Activities in providing a program of therapeutic activities designed to meet the interests and enhance the functional abilities and self-esteem of each resident. All resident care is provided in a manner that meets the resident's physical, mental and psycho social needs and enables the individual to attain or maintain the highest practicable level of functioning.
Job Summary: As a CNA the Activities Assistant may also provide nursing and nursing related services to residents consistent with each resident's comprehensive resident assessment and plan of care as it relates to the Activities Department. The Assistant protects and promotes resident rights and assists the person to maintain independence and controls to the greatest extent possible.

Essential Functions

Major Duties or Responsibilities:These duties are the essential functions and are not all-inclusive of all duties that the incumbent performs.

• Assists the Activities Director in gathering information about the needs and interests of each resident.

• Provide activities to residents confined to their rooms that reflect life-long interests such as music, reading, visiting with people of shared interests and in room projects that the resident can work on independently or with staff assistance.
• Assists with ensuring that all residents are informed of activities occurring, that staff encourages participation and transportation is provided.
• Participates in fire and disaster drills. In the event of an emergency, carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety.
• Performs the following duties as they relate to the Activities Department:
  • Transfer: Positions resident for transfer. Uses correct transfer technique and equipment according to plan of care, resident ability and self ability. Obtains assistance of another staff member if needed before starting to transfer a resident.
  • Eating: Provides set-up assistance for meal tray. Opens, pours, unwraps, and cuts food if resident is unable to help self. Feeds individuals that require total assistance according to their plans of care. Actively encourages residents to chew, eat, and swallow if indicated. Socializes with residents during mealtimes. Assists or cleans resident after meals.
• Provides care in a manner that protects and promotes resident rights, dignity, self-determination and active participation. Offers and respects resident choices in matters of daily routine. Refer to resident by proper name unless resident requests otherwise. Avoids use of all pet names. Handles all residents' property with respect.
• Observes and reports patterns of decreased social interaction, angry or sad behaviors and refusals of treatment to immediate supervisor.
• Assist with preparation for state inspections as directed. Attends survey training and interacts with state surveyors as directed by immediate supervisor.
• Follows all facility policies and procedures including those related to infection control. Uses personal protective equipment properly whenever indicated.
• Records accurate, legible information about resident care and condition in appropriate sections of resident's records.
• Demonstrates competence in use of proper body mechanics for both upper and lower body. Safely and correctly uses equipment such as gait belts and mechanical lifting equipment for lifting, pulling and turning residents who may range in weight from less than 80 pounds to over 300 pounds.
• Monitors physical environment for safety or fire hazards and corrects or reports potential problems immediately to supervisor. Promptly reports housekeeping and maintenance problems to supervisor.
• Reports injury to resident or self to Charge Nurse immediately.
• Attends 12 hours of in-service education provided by the facility annually. Applies information to job tasks.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or GED, functional literacy. Certificate/Licenses: CNA licensure, or ability be licensed within 6 months of start date. Acceptable verification of training and competency evaluation from Montana State Registry and no findings in the Registry concerning abuse, neglect, mistreatment of residents or misappropriation of resident's property.
Work Experience: A minimum of 6 months fulltime employment in a social or recreational program within a health care setting.
The job requires freedom from illegal use of drugs and freedom from use and effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
Persons who have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting or mistreating individuals in a health care setting are ineligible for employment in this position.
Must pass a background check.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Carries out all duties in accordance with the facility mission and philosophy.
Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions.
Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information.
Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property.
Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions. Able to effectively communicate with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means.
Able to interact effectively with individuals who are cognitively and/or physically impaired.
Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of the facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency.
Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of the facility out of danger in case of emergency.
Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time.
Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials.
Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time.
Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned.
Able to carry out the essential functions of this job ( with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others.
Able to meet the personal care needs for residents during activities based on the type of activity being held and the personal care required. As a CNA the Activity Assistant will be able to perform personal care needs for a resident during a 1:1 activity but may need other assistance during a group activity depending on the type of personal care required.
Able to assist the Activities Directors in providing diverse activities programs that are responsive to individual resident needs, that provides stimulation or solace, that promotes physical, cognitive or emotional health and enhances each resident's functional abilities. Available during days, evenings, and weekends.
Demonstrates competence in performing all services required of a C.N.A. including providing nursing and nursing-related services to individuals with cognitive impairments.
Able to recognize changes in resident's conditions as evidenced by physical symptoms, verbal expression or observation of change in mental or psycho social status.

Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity.