ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

POSITION: 
The Activity Director assumes administrative authority, responsibility and accountability for the provision of a program of therapeutic activities designed to meet the interests and enhance the functional abilities and self-esteem of each resident. Manages assistants to provide activities according to the facility policies and consistent with county, state and federal laws and regulations, as applicable. In collaboration with the Nursing Home Administrator, allocates resources in an efficient and economic manner to ensure each resident achieves the highest practicable physical, mental and psycho-social well being. 

REPORTING: 
This position is responsible to the Administrator.

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Conducts assessments and gathers information to design activities program that meets the functional levels, needs and interests of each resident 

• Completes minimum data sets assessments according to schedule developed by MDS Coordinator 

• Interviews residents, interested family members, legal representatives and significant others to obtain and update information needed to develop individualized activities programs, to accommodate individual needs and preferences and to protect and promote residents’ rights 

• Works cooperatively with members of the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and evaluate plan of care. Attends care plan conferences. Develops activity interventions as part of the comprehensive plan of care. Communicates resident concerns and responses to interventions to interdisciplinary team members and to direct care staff 

• Develops and provides individual, group and bedside activities for residents that reflect interests of residents, are offered at hours convenient to residents (morning, afternoon, evening, weekend), that appeal to all age groups, both men and women, take place in a variety of locations and include special and seasonal events. Develops and posts monthly activities calendar 

• Provides activities to residents confined to their rooms that reflect life/long interests such as music, reading, visits with people of shared interests and in-room projects that the resident can work on independently or with staff assistance 

• Provides structured activities to meet the needs of cognitively impaired residents such as music events, gross motor games or outdoor walks. Seeks ways to adapt activities so that all residents can participate such as segmenting activities into simple steps, providing verbal prompts, physical support, demonstration and hand-over-hand assistance when the resident is unable to complete a task independently 

• Identifies ways to accommodate resident choices, preferences, functional capacity and customary routines in activities program. Includes these approaches in plan of care and gives this information to direct care staff 

• Develops and implements effective procedures to ensure that all residents are informed that activities are occurring, that staff encourage participation and that transportation is provided 

• Record progress notes in the clinical record including resident response, observed symptoms and behavior, interventions provided to resident and resident’s responses to activity interventions. Audits chart entries written by activities staff for completeness, accuracy 

• Performs quality assessment and assurance functions, including daily regulatory compliance rounds, observation of activities in progress on units, record reviews and interviews with staff members, residents, families and Administration. Identifies problems in activity staff performance and institutes corrective action 

• Participates in the development of the department budget. Provides relevant financial information to the Administrator regarding department financial needs and status 

• Communicates with the Administrator on a regular basis to discuss resident care, personnel and budget issues. Develops staffing plan, which may include volunteers, and recommends to Administrator numbers and types of activity personnel needed to meet resident needs in compliance with county, state and federal laws and regulations, as applicable 

• Hires and retains qualified competent activity staff and volunteers to provide therapeutic activities to attain or maintain highest practicable physical, mental and psycho-social wellbeing. Conducts interviews, provides regular performance reviews, takes appropriate job actions, reviews job actions taken by subordinates to assure that staff meet qualification and performance standards and can perform all essential functions of the job 

• Actively participates in long term care survey process by instructing staff in matters of conduct and disclosure, maintaining a presence at all times surveyors are on-site and directing the timely collection of information required by the survey team. Demonstrates concern for identified problems and undertakes corrective action while survey is in progress if appropriate. Gathers and presents supplemental documentation to avoid potential deficiencies. Collaborates with the Administrator to develop responses to survey report as needed 

• Reports injury of self or others to Charge Nurse immediately 

• Attends survey training and all required in service education classes. Applies information to job responsibilities and tasks 

• Participates in fire and disaster drills. In event of an emergency, carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety 

• Assist with social dining program 

JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Demonstrates knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions. Able to act as role model for unit staff by protecting and promoting residents’ rights in all interactions with residents and families 

• 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 

• Current knowledge of standards of professional activities practice. Able to apply these principles in long term care setting and to establish criteria to ensure that services provided meet established standards of quality 

• Able to develop a varied activities program, available during days, evenings and on weekends, that is responsive to individual resident needs, that provides stimulation or solace, that promotes physical, cognitive or emotional health and enhances each resident’s functional abilities 

• Able to implement activity interventions that achieve treatment goals, address resident needs, link social supports, physical care and physical environment to enhance quality of life 

• Current knowledge of county, state and federal laws and regulations, as applicable, that apply to practice of activities in long term care 

• Demonstrates satisfactory level of interpersonal skills to interact with residents, families, facility and government agencies, interdisciplinary staff 

• Management skills sufficient to oversee the organization of department staff, to work within budgets, allocate resources and to assist in the planning and implementation of individual resident plans of care 

• Able to perform personnel functions including interviewing prospective staff, conducting performance evaluations and assure staff can perform essential functions of their job, and taking job actions as appropriate. Able to apply facility policies to facts leading to job actions without regard to race, religion, age, national origin, sex or disability 

• Able to express self adequately in written and/or oral communication and to communicate effectively in an interdisciplinary care setting with residents, families, staff members, representatives of community and government agencies 

• Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions. Able effectively to communicate with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means 

• Carries out all duties in accord with the facility mission and philosophy 

• Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of 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 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 and to report for duty as scheduled on all shifts, weekends and holidays 

• 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 

• Other duties as assigned 
PHYSICAL CAPACITIES:

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 meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination. 

Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.

Must be able to move intermittently during working hours. 

Must be able to stand for and walk for extended periods of time. 

Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.

Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Primarily inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure, and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. 

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff. 

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS: 

Education:
High School Diploma or equivalent
License:
None 
Work Experience: 
2 years experience in a social or recreational program within the past 5 years, 1 year of which was full time in a resident activities program in a health care setting, or; 

Be an Occupational Therapist, Art Therapist, Music Therapist, Dance Therapist, Recreation Therapist, or; 

Have satisfactorily completed at least 36 hours of training in a course designed specifically for this position and approved by the Department of Health Services. 

Language Skills: 
• Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.

Mathematical Skills: 
• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 
• Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume. 

Communication Skills: 
• Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.