Activity Director

Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Activity Director in planning, organizing, devel- oping, 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 is designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each patient.

Delegation of Authority
As Assistant Activity Director, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and account- ability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions
Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. 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 an es- sential function of the position.


Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions
•    Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the activity pro- grams of this facility.
•    Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submit- ting such to the Activity Director as required.
•    Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of Assistant Activity Director.
•    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.
•    Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
•    Interview patients or family members to obtain activity information.
•    Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning activity programs.
•    Arrange transportation for field trips when necessary.
•    Other functions 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 ap- pointed 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).
•    Attend meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.
 
Personnel Functions
•    Assist the Activity Director in determining departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the activity department's needs.
•    Maintain an excellent working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate the activ- ity program to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.
•    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.
•    Make daily rounds to assure that appropriate activity programs are being rendered to meet the needs of the patient.
•    Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.


Staff Development Functions
•    Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the activity department.
•    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 Functions
•    Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner.
•    Ensure that activity personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
•    Ensure that department personnel follow established procedures governing the use of labels and MSDSs.
•    Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
•    Ensure 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 necessary or as may be required.
•    Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly.
•    Check supply rooms to assure that needed activity supplies are on hand to conduct scheduled activities.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions
•    Assist the Activity Director in developing preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the activity needs of each patient.
•    Assist in the scheduling of activity care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
•    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.

Budget and Planning Functions
•    Assist 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 if so directed.
•    Maintain current written records of department expenditures as requested.

Patients’ Rights Functions
•    Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information.
•    Review complaints and grievances made by the patient and make a written/oral report to the Activity Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
•    Follow facility's established patients’ rights and privacy procedures.
•    Participate in patient council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.
 
Miscellaneous Functions
•    Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.).
•    Assist in making appointments for the patient as requested.
•    Assist in developing and maintaining an activity schedule.
•    Make routine visits to patients and encourage development while assisting with crafts, projects, read- ing materials, etc., as necessary.
•    Assist bed patients by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making appointments, etc., as necessary.
•    Other functions 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.
•    Moves intermittently during working hours.
•    Is subject to frequent interruptions from patients, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
•    Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, 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 neces- sary.
•    Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
•    Attends and participates in continuing educational 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 limited exposure to hazardous chemicals, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., in- cluding TB, Aids, Covid variants, and Hepatitis B viruses.

Education
•    Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Experience
•    Must have experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other re- lated medical facility.

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 possess the ability to deal patiently, tactfully, with a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.
•    Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other person- nel.
•    Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activity services.
•    Must be able to relate information concerning a patient's condition.
•    Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
•    Must be willing to follow all company, state and regulatory policies related to Infection Control and Vaccination requirements.

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 due to relating to and work- ing with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times, hostile people.
 
•    Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function ade quately 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 patients, personnel, and support agencies.
•    Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility.
•    Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a reasonable expectation of pounds to a reasonable height and distance.
•    May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of patients during emergency situations.

Job Position Analysis Information
NO    Tasks assigned to this position do not typically involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, air contaminants, and hazardous chemicals
YES    Functions Require Repetitive Motion
YES    Minimal weight Lifting requirements Apply
YES    Functions Require Prolonged Sitting, Standing, Bending