Activity Aide/Activity Assistant

Meadowbrook at Chetek•Chetek, WI

About The Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to 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. As Activity Assistant , you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. 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. Information explaining the Essential Functions , Safety Factors , and the Competency Evaluation columns, as well as the Risk Exposure Category legend is provided in the “Job Position Analysis Information” section located on the last page of this job description.

Requirements

Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent.
None required. On-the-job training provided.
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 decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
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.
Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activity services.
Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
Must possess sight/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 function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times, hostile people within the facility.
Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.).
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.
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.
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.
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 action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
Follow facility’s established procedures.
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.