Activity Director

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Activity Director is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, and directing the overall

operation of the Activity Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local regulations

and our established policies and procedures. The Activity Director will be held accountable and

responsible for the decision making and must assure that an ongoing 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 resident.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

A. Role Responsibilities – Job Knowledge/Duties:

1. Participates in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans

and resident assessments

2. Interviews resident/families as necessary and in a private setting

3. Performs administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc.,

and submitting such to the Administrator as required

4. Involves residents in planning facility activity programs

5. Assists in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished

6. Reviews and develops a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey

inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Administrator

7. Participates in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies

8. Ensures that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the

services provided and of the resident’s response to the service

9. Involves the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident care planning

10. Meets with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments

in order to coordinate and plan activity programs

11. Arranges transportation for field trips when necessary

12. Checks supply rooms to assure that needed activity supplies are on hand to conduct

scheduled activities

13. Purchases department supplies, clothing and personal items for the residents

14. Schedules movies, plan parties, and provide games/activities for residents

15. Encourages residents to participate in hobbies and crafts. Provide materials as necessary

16. Supervises activities as necessary

17. Develops and maintains an activity schedule

18. Provides reading materials in braille, tapes, and records as necessary

Activity Director 2

19. Makes routine visits to residents and perform assistance with crafts, projects, etc., as

necessary

20. Assists bed residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making

appointments, etc., as necessary

21. Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator

B. Role and Responsibilities - Administrative Duties

1. Supervises, trains, counsels, disciplines, evaluates, and develops the activity department

2. Assists in the recruitment, interviewing, selection, and termination of personnel for the

activity department

3. Assumes administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability of supervising the

Activity Department

4. Assists in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified

deficiencies

5. Develops, implements, and maintains an ongoing quality assurance program for the

activity department

6. Makes written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the

operation of the activity department and adjustments in activity programs

7. Determines departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the activity

department’s needs, and assign a sufficient number of activity personnel for each tour of

duty

8. Schedules department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules),

personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work and stay within budget

9. Attends all department meetings, in-services, and on-the-job training

10. Ensures that all department personnel follow established departmental policies and

procedures, including appropriate dress codes, safety regulations, and infection control

11. Develops and implements procedures that ensure activity supplies are used in an

efficient manner to avoid waste

12. Assists 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

13. Participates in resident/group council meetings as requested and provide support

services to such council

C. Role and Responsibilities – Interpersonal Skills

1. Is aware of, and adheres to, Resident’s Bill of Rights and Confidentiality of Resident

Information

2. Interacts with resident and family members, co-workers, clinical and ancillary staff in

non-judgmental, supportive and calm manner

3. Addresses resident and family satisfaction issues and or concerns immediately by reporting them to the Supervisor in a professional manner

4. 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

5. Is aware of the Resident Abuse Reporting Law

6. Participates as assigned in the orientation of new staff and demonstrates a positive,

helpful and enthusiastic attitude

7. Maintains a productive working relationship with other department directors

Activity Director 3

D. Role and Responsibilities – Safety

1. Uses facility equipment safely and follows established safety regulations

2. Ensure that department work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner

3. Demonstrates ability to locate emergency equipment (i.e. fire extinguisher)

4. Understands, and demonstrates, knowledge of role in Fire and Disaster drills

5. Demonstrates ability to identify and respond appropriately to potential behavioral

outbursts.

6. Recognizes, removes, and/or reports potential hazards

7. Monitors activities personnel to assure they are following established safety regulations

E. Role Responsibilities – Infection Control

1. Reports occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and

hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing

accidents and incidents

2. Ensures that appropriate protective clothing/devices are readily available for handling

infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids

3. Ensures that activities personnel follow established infection control procedures when

isolation precautions become necessary

4. Demonstrates proper hand-washing techniques and ensure all activities personnel

follow established hand-washing procedures

5. Disposes of waste properly and ensures that activities personnel follow established

policies governing the use/disposal of personal protective equipment, and disposal of

infectious wastes

F. Role Responsibilities – Resident Care/Dignity

1. Maintains the confidentiality of all resident care information

2. Addresses residents in a respectful manner and knocks before entering a resident’s room

3. Knowledgeable of the resident’s rights and responsibilities, including the right of

refusal and ensures personnel are compliant with all rules regarding residents’ rights

4. Maintains 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

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

1. Must be high school graduate

2. Must have certificate of completion for the Activity Director Course

3. Experience in a social or recreation program within the last 5 years

4. Must be able to read, write and speak the English language

5. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors,

government agencies/personnel and the general public

6. Must be knowledgeable of activities practices and procedures as well as the laws, regulations

and guidelines governing activities functions in the long-term care facility

7. Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate

them into existing practices

8. Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and

supervise other personnel

9. Must be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up

10. Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times,

hostile people within the facility

Activity Director 4

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Must be capable of performing the essential functions of the job, with or without

reasonable accommodations

2. Must meet health assessment requirements, including a two-stage Mantoux skin test

3. Must be able to move intermittently during working hours

4. Must be able to push/pull/lift and carry 40 pounds

5. Must be able to grasp and have fine motor coordination

6. Must be able to hear (with or without aid)

7. Must be able to reach, stoop, kneel, bend and lift

8. Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation,

post-disaster, etc.)

9. Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work

day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air

contaminants.

10. Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and

the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses

11. May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

12. May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situation