Activity Assistant

Purpose of Your Job Position

Assist in the 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 supervisors.

Delegation of Authority

As Activity Assistant, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability 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 essential function of the position.

Administrative Functions

• Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and evaluating the activity 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 activity care plans and resident assessments.

• Interview residents or family members to obtain activity information.

• Involve the resident/family in planning activity programs when possible.

• Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.

• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.

• Refer resident/families to appropriate social service personnel when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.

• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of Activity Assistant.

• Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.

• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Activity Director adjustments in activity programs that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities.

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

• Participate in facility surveys inspections made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed.

• Ensure that all charted activity 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.

• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Activity Director as required.

• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.

• Agree not to disclose resident’s protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.

• Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility’s information system.

• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Activity Director.

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.

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.

• Assist in developing volunteer activity assignments.

• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.

• Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines.

Staff Development

• Assist in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs that relate to the activity department.
• Attend and participate in professional activities and programs.
• 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

• Report all incidents/accidents immediately.
• Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately.
• Follow established ergonomics policies and procedures e.g., a back brace and/or a mechanical lifter is used when lifting or moving heavy objects.
• Participate in fire safety and disaster preparedness drills.
• Use protective clothing/devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.
• Assist in preparing activity rooms/areas for scheduled activity programs.
• Assist in cleaning up activity areas after completing activity functions.
• Recommend to your supervisor the equipment and supply needs of the activity department.
• Operate activity equipment in a safe manner.
• Use activity supplies in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Assist in the moving/arranging of equipment/supplies to assure that activity areas are ready for scheduled activity functions.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

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

• Encourage the resident/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.

• 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 the development of the department’s budget.

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

• Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.

Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
• Knock before entering a resident’s room.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Activity Director indicating what actions were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility’s established procedures.

Miscellaneous

• Implement activity procedures as directed by the Activity Director by creating decorations, setting up necessary equipment, creating ceramics, needlework, woodwork and other crafts, escorting residents to and from activity area, and awarding prizes.
• Assist in making appointments for the resident as requested.
• Assist in scheduling movies, planning parties, and providing games/activities for residents.
• 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, remotivation 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 well being of residents by applying experience in activities and knowledge of diagnoses and conditions of residents.
• Others 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.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department directors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• 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 workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the Aids and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Education

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

Experience

None required. On-the-job training provided.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess class C driver’s license.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.
• Must possess the ability to make independent dec