Job Position: Director of Recreational Activities

Full Time: 40 hours per week, salaried position.
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SUMMARY: The Director of Recreational Activities must have the ability to plan and organize recreational activities for the residents of the nursing home. She/he must have an understanding of the social, psychological, and recreational needs of the aged, as well as other types of patients in the facility. The activities program should occur within the context of each resident's comprehensive assessment and care plan. The program should be multifaceted and reflect the individual resident needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Recreational Activities shall see that activities are offered at hours convenient to the residents.
Activities are to be scheduled 7 days a week, morning, afternoon, and evening, including holidays and weekends. Director will schedule self and staff accordingly.
Produces a monthly activities calendar, reflecting the time and type of activity. Ensures this calendar is produced well in advance and distributed to the various activities areas, floors, and in other areas visible to the residents.
Greets new residents and makes the activity assessment being sure to get the resident likes and dislikes, so activities can be tailored to the individual needs.
Establishes a plan of care for each resident and participates in the care plan meetings; do the MDS and Quarterly assessments.
Knows resident cognitive levels and provides appropriate activities for levels.
Plans, organizes, and directs a program of activities which will provide entertainment, intercommunication, exercise, relaxation, opportunity to express creative talent, and fulfill basic psychological, social, and spiritual needs, and which will be available to all patients as ordered by the patient's physician.
Initiates and promotes activities both within the institution and outside the institution to stimulate and promote patient interest and general well-being.
Encourages hobbies and provides materials and supplies in keeping with the patient's financial status and department budget. Encourages craft activities among patients in groups or individually, in wards, work rooms, recreational areas, or in patient rooms.
Encourages social communication among patients through group activities and recreation. Plans parties, provides games, and encourages patients to assist in the planning, e.g., making table decorations, wrapping gifts, planning party room, etc. Schedules movies, obtains films, and operates projectors. May take movies of patients and show them. Plans trips (shopping, scenic, other) and arranges for transportation and supervision. Schedules outside activities and arranges transportation and supervision.
Encourages patients to participate in religious activities to fulfill their basic spiritual needs, through visits with chaplain, attendance at religious services whenever possible, spiritual reading material, and others.
Encourages intellectual/educational development through literature, lectures, movies, cultural events, etc.
Visits residents confined to bed; may write letters for them, run errands, may assist patients to church services, appointments, etc. Provides library service for patients in cooperation with local library or in-house library. Provides reading material in tapes and records for blind patients as needed.
Secures entertainment well in advance and checks with the entertainers prior to their appearance in the Home, to ensure their activity is properly scheduled and their props are available.
Invites and encourages residents to participate in each day's program where appropriate and transports residents to and from activity as necessary.
Maintains a record of patients' activities. Evaluates patients' reactions during activities and reports unusual observations to Charge Nurse. Writes progress notes and charts them as often as required. Maintains patient charts. Prepares and submits reports as directed by Administrator. Participates on patient care committee. Is responsible for the appearance of work area. May delegate these responsibilities to Activities staff or volunteers.
Requisitions and may purchase supplies, equipment, and material to carry out the program. Expenditures may be restricted under budgetary control. Maintains inventory records, as well as petty cash fund. Completes End of Month report.
Orientates and supervises all assistants and volunteers in the activity department.
Sees that the activity area is in good order before and after each activity session.
Works irregular hours - some nights and weekends, but will attempt to keep total hours within the scheduled 40 hours per week.
Others as directed by the Administrator.
Develop, promote, and maintain opportunities for volunteers within the facility.
Recruits, interviews, and places applicants for volunteer work and coordinates their training.
Informs volunteers of policies, procedures, and standards of volunteer service.
Observes work of volunteers and evaluates performance.
Confers with volunteers to resolve grievances and promote cooperation and interest.
Organizes and participates in volunteer recognition programs.
Maintain accurate records and provides timely statistical and activity reports on volunteer participation.

SAFETY

Report equipment malfunctions to appropriate staff and complete work orders when indicated.
Identify and remove safety hazards/devices and report to appropriate personnel.
Assure a safe, clean, and clutter-free environment.
Utilize standard precautions by wearing protective equipment (goggles, gowns, gloves) when indicated, and uses correct hand washing technique.
Follow facility fire and safety policies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises employees in the Activities Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

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, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or higher; with 3-5 years experience in a social or recreational program in a health care setting. Is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant; or has completed a training course approved by the State.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Enter, adjust, and retrieve data using a microcomputer or personal computer and keyboard.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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Coffman Nursing Home

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