Position: Activities Assistant
Department: Administration
Job Summary: Responsible for providing maintenance, empowerment, and supportive activities for all residents. Planning and leading daily activities programs encompassing all residents. Communicate with all facility staff and to effectively supervise volunteers, and coordinate community involvement.
Essential Functions, Responsibilities and Duties:
- Design and monitor appropriate programs (i.e. cultural and educational, crafts, games, music programs, outings, etc.) to meet the day-to-day needs and interests of each resident, encourage self-care and maintenance of an optional level of psychosocial functioning.
- Develop and implement a monthly activities calendar that encompasses a wide variety of programs including evening and weekends which must be submitted to the manager for approval at least one week prior to the implementation of the monthly calendar. Changes to the calendar must be approved in advance.
- Determine, with the assistance of the appropriate professional staff, the level at which each resident can participate in the activities program, and promote the appropriate activities to the residents.
- Supervise volunteers and paid outside persons.
- Establish community contacts, i.e., visitors for residents, volunteers, and entertainment.
- Develop a one-on-one visiting routine for room-bound/bedridden residents, dementia residents.
- Direct and monitor group activities incorporating groups of all sizes and orientation levels.
- Establish and maintain quality interdepartmental and intra-departmental correspondence and relationships, and attend regular department meetings.
- Keep documentation on residents’ involvement in activities monthly in residents’ activity book.
- Manage resident activities funds for trips.
- Schedule use of bus for trips, keep bus clean and tank full, and keep owner aware of bus maintenance issues.
- Assist residents with transferring and other ADL’s while out of facility on trips.
- Assist with the dining service for holidays and special events.
- Responsible for obtaining supplies and equipment to be utilized in the activities programs; Crafts and scheduled activities must be prepared and materials obtained at least one week prior to the event date.
- Additional planning time must be approved by management (i.e. special events, activities meetings, etc.)
- All other duties assigned.
Specific Skills, Knowledge and Training Required:
- First Aid, CPR, and Medication Technician Certification
- Scheduled in-services and specialty trainings
- Energetic and pleasant.
- Must demonstrate an enthusiastic, confident attitude.
- Must demonstrate creative thinking.
- Good sense of humor.
- Must be organized.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Musical skills a plus.
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.
Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondence. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively communicate with outside entities, residents, family members, and other employees of the organization.
Mathematical skills: Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts.
Reasoning ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form. Ability to deal with day-to-day situations calmly and effectively.
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 regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly assist residents with mobility and transfers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Manager and Executive Director.