Activity Assistant

Job Description

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your position is to assist in planning, implementation, and evaluation of recreational, social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual programs, in accordance with the resident’s assessment and care plan, and as may be directed by your Supervisor.

Delegation of Authority

As Activities Assistant you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Function

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 essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and evaluating the recreation programs of this Facility. Observe resident attendance, mood, behavior, and degree of involvement so that Facility activities and resident progress are evaluated, by noting, reporting, and charting resident behavior.

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 recreation care plans and resident assessments. Interview residents or family members to obtain recreation information.

Involve the resident and family in planning recreation programs, when possible. Involve the resident and family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.

Refer resident and families to appropriate social service personnel when the Facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.

Coordinate activities with other departments, as necessary.

Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations and recommend to the Recreation Director adjustments in recreation programs that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities.

Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance program for the recreation department.

Participate in Facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies, as necessary or as may be directed.

Ensure that all charted recreation progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and indicate the resident’s response to the service.

Arrange transportation for field trips when necessary.

Committee Functions

Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the Facility, as appointed. Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans.

Attend daily staff meetings to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

Personnel Functions

Develop and maintain a good working rapport with other departments within the Facility to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.

Assist in developing volunteer recreation assignments.

Staff Development

Assist in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs that relate to the Recreation department.

Participate and assist in departmental studies and projects, as assigned or that may become necessary.

Attend and participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that may result in exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, or hazardous chemicals.

Attend and participate in annual mandated Facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, etc.).

Safety and Sanitation

Follow established ergonomics policies and procedures.

Use protective clothing or devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids. Report missing or illegible labels and MSDSs to your Supervisor.

Assist in preparing recreation rooms and areas for scheduled recreation programs. Assist in cleaning up recreation areas after completing recreation functions.

Equipment and Supply Functions

Recommend to your Supervisor the equipment and supply needs of the Recreation department. Use recreation supplies in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

Assist in the moving and arranging of equipment and supplies to assure that recreation areas are ready for scheduled recreation functions.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Assist in developing a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident’s recreation program that identifies the problems and needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem and need identified.

Encourage the resident and family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care. Follow the care plan in providing daily activities for the resident.

Budget and Planning Functions

Assist in the development of the department’s budget.

Purchase department supplies and clothing and personal items for the residents.

Resident Rights

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written or oral report to the Recreation Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow Facility’s established procedures.

Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements.

Miscellaneous

Implement recreation procedures, as directed, by the Recreation Director, by creating decorations, setting up necessary equipment, creating ceramics, needlework, woodwork and other crafts, escorting residents to and from recreation area, and awarding prizes.

Assist in scheduling movies, planning parties, and providing games and activities for residents. Drive Facility vehicle to events and activities outside the Facility, as necessary.

Encourage residents to participate in recreational social activities so that all residents are involved in activities by engaging in and organizing games, crafts, religious services, parties, etc.

Oversee residents engaged in scheduled activities to promote the physical, social, and mental well-being of residents by applying experience in activities and knowledge of diagnoses and conditions of residents.

Befriend residents to encourage resident self-esteem by visiting and conversing with residents on a regular basis. 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 in-room residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making appointments, etc., as necessary.

Conduct individual, and/or group, re-motivation, and reality orientation sessions to promote the worth, self-esteem, and reality level of the residents.

Oversee the residents engaged in scheduled activities to promote the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of residents by applying experience in activities and knowledge of diagnoses and conditions of residents.

Working Conditions

Works in office areas as well as throughout the Facility.

Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies and personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.

Education

Must possess a high school diploma or GED.

Experience

Not applicable. On-the-job training provided.

Specific Requirements

Must possess class C driver’s license

Must be able to understand the English language.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing recreation services.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

(With or Without a Reasonable Accommodation)

Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

Must possess sight and 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 meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of the Facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.

Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Guidelines for Nursing Homes Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the American Conference Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values for Lifting the Facility has identified that this job may require the lifting of residents, equipment, or other objects. Accordingly, this job may require a minimum of 5 pounds and a maximum of 45 pounds lifting, periodically and or as needed.