Activity Assitant
Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Activity Director in planning, organizing, developing, and directing the overall operation of the Activity Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that an on-going program of activities designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psychosocial well- being of each resident is maintained.
Delegation of Authority
As Activity Assistant, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Job Functions
Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the activity programs of this facility.
- Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.
- Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Activity Director and/or Administrator.
- Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures for the identification of medically related activity needs of the resident.
- Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
- Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments.
- Interview resident/families as necessary and in a private setting.
- Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Activity Director as directed.
- Involve the resident/family in planning activity programs when possible.
- Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
- Refer resident/families to appropriate social service personnel when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.
- Provide information to resident/families as to Medicare/Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident, as instructed.
- Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of activity programs.
- Maintain a productive working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
- Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.
- Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
- Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Activity Director concerning the operation of the activity department.
- Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished. Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.
- Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Activity Director adjustments in activity programs that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities.
- Assist in reviewing and developing a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Activity Director.
- Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related activity functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
- Assist the Quality Assessment & Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
- Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance program for the activity department.
- Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
- Interview residents or family members to obtain activity information.
- Assure that all activity progress notes charted are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service.
- Assist the Activity Director in maintaining 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 activity program.
- Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.
- Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning activity programs.
- Arrange transportation for field trips when necessary.
- Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Activity
Director and/or Administrator.
Committee Functions
- Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility, (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.,)as required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
- Provide written and/or oral reports of the programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s).
- Assist the Activity Director in evaluating and implementing recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to activity services.
- Meet with activity personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.
- Assist in standardizing the methods in which activity programs will be performed and/or administered.
- Maintain an excellent working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate the activity program to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.
- Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment through out the facility.
- Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
Safety and Sanitation
- Monitor department personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
- Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner.
- Follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.
- Participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
- Ensure that activity personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
- Report any exposure to blood/body fluids.
- Assure that department personnel follow established procedures governing exposure to blood/body fluids.
Equipment and Supply Functions
- Recommend to the Activity Director the equipment and supply needs of the activity department.
- Place orders for equipment and supplies as directed.
- Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly.
- Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks.
- Operate activity equipment in a safe manner.
- Develop and implement procedures that ensure activity supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions
- Assist the Activity Director in developing preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the activity needs of each resident.
- Assist the Activity Director in developing 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.
- Insofar as practical, encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.
- Assist in the scheduling of activity care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
- Ensure that all personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily activities for the resident.
- Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.
Resident Rights
- Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
- Ensure that all activity personnel are knowledgeable of the resident’s rights, and responsibilities.
- Participate in resident council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.
- Maintain 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.
- Knock before entering a resident’s room.
Miscellaneous
- Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.).
- Make sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices are on hand for handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
- Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
- Assist in making appointments for the resident as requested.
- Assist in scheduling movies, planning parties, and providing games/activities for residents.
- Encourage residents to participate in hobbies and crafts.
- Provide materials as necessary.
- Supervise activities as necessary.
- Assist in developing and maintaining an activity schedule.
- Provide reading materials in braille, tapes, and records as necessary.
- Assist in providing library service for residents through cooperation with local library.
- Make routine visits to residents and perform assistance with crafts, projects, etc., as necessary.
- May arrange for sale of articles made by residents, i.e., at bazaars, in gift shop, etc.
- Assist bed residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making appointments, etc., as necessary.
- Encourage residents to develop their educational development through reading, etc.
- Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Activity
Director.
Working Conditions
- Works in office areas as well as throughout the facility.
- Sits, stands, bends, lifts and 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 service, and other department supervisors.
- Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
- Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
- Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day.
- May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
- Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for resident activities.
Education
Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent as to a GED.
Experience
No experience necessary, on-the-job training provided.
Specific Requirements
- You will need two forms of I.D. and proof of Tribal Enrollment (if claiming Indian preferences).
- 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 possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
- Must be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age.
- Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise professional and non-professional 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 nursing practices.
- Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
Physical and Sensory Requirements
(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)
- Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
- 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 be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
- 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 lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of fifty(50) pounds.
- Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.