Summary:
The Activities Director is responsible for planning and facilitating daily activities and events appropriate for residents. The purpose of this department is to provide quality of life via group, individual, leisure, social and therapeutic activities. Our purpose is to provide quality of life. Group and individual leisure, social and therapeutic activities, enhance the emotional, physical and social well being of the resident. Therefore, it is the policy of this community to provide the most diversified program possible so that it will be tailored to fit the needs and desires of every resident, no matter what his or her interests are. Our policy is to do whatever needed to make life fun again for our residents. We want our residents to be totally free to do whatever they would like to do, to go wherever they please, to be active and never bored. Our policy is to make life fun again, because after a lifetime of working and worries it is their turn now to enjoy.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities include the following: (Note: Other duties may be assigned.)
- To provide activities during the resident’s leisure that meet the individual’s needs and interests, facilitating a mood receptive to treatment and other disciplines.
- To assist residents in a satisfactory adjustment to community placement, educating the individual in the social patterns of living in the institutional setting.
- To contribute to the development, restoration or maintenance of sound, mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health.
- To assist residents in pursuing and acquiring some recreational interest through stimulation, enthusiasm, positive encouragement and personal achievement.
- To promote a continuance of interest through anticipation of special activities, events and outings.
- To provide an independent community atmosphere through group interaction.
- To insure satisfying recreational experience to individuals and groups. Organizes a program of both group and individual activities based on the resident’s individualized needs.
- Maintains a balance of recreational activities including physical, social, religious, diverse, intellectual, creative arts and crafts.
- In addition to the above balance of recreational activities, the activity director will also provide motivation for participation in residents’ council and shall schedule a time and place for meetings of the residents’ council.
- Will ensure that group activities are scheduled at a time that would provide for maximum involvement by interested residents. This shall include weekend volunteers of the community.
- Participates in community planning related to the interests of the facility and arranges for the use of community facilities by the residents.
- Participates in the in-service program of the facility.
- Is knowledgeable to provide in-service training for all staff regarding activity programs, volunteer service, and orientation.
- Maintains activity equipment and supplies.
- Works within the budgetary guidelines as outlined by the director of operations and maintains adequate record of expenditures.
- Abnormal signs and symptoms, which signify a physical change in resident’s condition that would require attention, should be reported to the director of resident care.
- Is alert to conditions in the facility that may present a danger to the resident. Reports it to appropriate party. Example: A frayed electric cord would be reported to the maintenance person, puddles of excessive moisture on the floor would be reported to the housekeeping department.
- Keeps professional matters confidential.
- Performs other related duties as required by the Executive Director. Reports to the executive director on functions of the Activity Program.
- Scheduling and carrying out, (either personally or through others) daily structured and unstructured in-house events on an individual and group basis.
- Scheduling monthly events (as above) and preparing Activities Calendar.
- Scheduling group and individual excursions out of facility.
- Compiling, coordinating, and encouraging resident participation of the in-house newsletter.
- Actively solicits and supervises entertainment groups, church groups and volunteers.
- Ordering and controlling hobby and craft supplies, games, and recreational equipment.
- Securing transportation for outings and excursions.
- Schedules appropriately to meet religious and spiritual needs of the resident.
- Assignment of duties to and supervision of activities aides and assistants.
- Visiting residents who are temporarily in local hospitals.
- Requesting Petty Cash for the needs of the department and accounting for all expenditures.
- Meeting new residents as soon as possible following the admission, learning what they like to do, and encouraging them to start to participate in the appropriate activity programs.
- Create an exciting Activities Program to fit the various types of Residents in the building.
- When a new resident is admitted, the Activities Director will obtain information about the resident from the Activity Assessment. By noting the information given, the Activities Director will be able to determine what kinds of activities the new resident is interested in. The Activities Director will try to meet the new resident as soon as possible after admission.
- Compile (via the Resident Interest Profile database) and utilize the above information to invite the proper residents to the activities they like.
- Follow the daily activities schedule and carry out the planned activities.
- Maintain the bulletin boards and monthly calendars for the building.
- Decorate the activity room for seasonal holidays and special events.
- Plan special events to recognize secular, religious, national and indigenous holidays, birthdays, and themes.
- Coordinate required or voluntary participation from other departments.
- Review and evaluate activity program every four months.
- Incorporate creative and innovative ideas on a regular basis.
- Plan and supervise weekly outings for residents.
- Write, edit, and solicit resident participation for the in-house monthly publications (newsletter and calendar).
- Prepare and submit yearly budget estimates.
- Maintain monthly budget. Prepare and submit monthly petty cash reports.
- Select and hire entertainment and performers.
- Plan a wide variety of daily activities
- Prepare and submit a one year calendar plan with intended goals
- Prepare a summary at the end of every period to reflect goals accomplished.
- Photograph residents regularly and supply photos to residents and their family members.
- Coordinate the participation of church groups, religious services, school children, pet therapy and outside community services organizations.
Supervisor Responsibilities:
Activities Director is responsible for training and supervising all volunteers working in his/her department, as well as assistants, if any. Director will act as liaison between contract personnel (i.e. teachers, entertainers, etc.) and company.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- For this job to be successful an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactory.
- Must be a caring person.
- Must have creative abilities (also assistant qualifications).
- Director should be comfortable working with older, infirm individuals, and knowledgeable of activities which would relate to specific needs of such individuals.
- Ability to motivate individuals to participate in programming on a daily basis is essential.
- Experience in planning and facilitating activities is primary to this position.
- Knowledge of activity planning for the elderly is also necessary.
- The activities director must be a creative, self-starter, enthusiastic, energetic, sensitive to the needs of the elderly and/or impaired resident, organized, goal-oriented, and a team player.
- He/She must have excellent communication skills.
- The activities director needs to be handy in arts and crafts, must enjoy singing and dancing.
Education and/or Experience:
The activities program is directed by a qualified professional who is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist who:
- Has two years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last five years, one of which was full-time activities program in a health care setting; or is a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or has completed a training course approved by the State.
- Preferred Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Recreational Therapy.
Language Skills:
Must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English. Ability to communicate in other foreign languages, especially in Spanish, is desirable.
Mathematical Skills:
Basic math skills required. Must be able to plan and adhere to a yearly budget and to maintain petty cash.
Reasoning Ability:
Able to work under pressure and handle multi-task functions. Must be able to deal effectively with people. Must be self-motivated and resourceful.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
Be certified with National Certification for Activity Professionals and/or National Therapeutic Recreation Specialists.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Able to stand walk for prolonged periods of time.
- Able to stoop, bend, and lift 0-25 lbs.
- Able to speak clearly and understandably.
- Special events require some physical set-up; physical stamina is necessary for those times.
- The position of Activities Director requires occasional extended hours, including nights and weekends.
- Special events require some physical set up by director and physical stamina is necessary for those times.
- Must be able to stand on feet for extended periods of time when leading an activity or special event, and must be able to work occasional long hours, nights, and weekends.
Work Environment:
The work environment described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of his/her job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Activity/Recreation areas of the facility.
- Living room/dining room.
- Residents’ rooms.
- Porches, patios, yards, outside areas, etc.
- Activity office.
- Able to work in a non-smoking environment.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Work Location: In person