Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Housekeeping Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards guidelines, and regulations governing our Facility and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that our Facility is maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable manner.

Delegation of Authority

As Environmental Services Director you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Function

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the housekeeping department, its programs, and activities.

• Develop and maintain written housekeeping policies and procedures.

• Develop and maintain written job descriptions and performance evaluations for each level of housekeeping personnel in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.

• Make weekly inspections of all housekeeping functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained.

• Assist the housekeeping staff in the development and use of departmental policies, procedures, equipment, supplies, etc.

• Review the department’s policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc., at least annually for revisions, and make recommendations to the Administrator.

• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.

• Assume the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the housekeeping department.

• Coordinate housekeeping services and activities with other related departments (i.e., Dietary, Nursing, Activities, etc.).

• Make written oral reports and recommendations to the Administrator as necessary or required, concerning the operation of the housekeeping department.

• Submit accident and incident reports to the business office within twenty-four (24) hours after the occurrence of the accident and incident.

• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator and/or Committee in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related functions to ensure that housekeeping tasks involving potential exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded.

• Inspect storage rooms, utility or janitorial closets, etc., for upkeep and supply control.

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

• Review and develop a plan of correction for housekeeping deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the administrator.

• Keep abreast of economic conditions or situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in housekeeping services that assure the continued ability to provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment.

• Perform administrative duties such as completing necessary forms, reports, evaluations, studies, etc.

• Delegate a responsible staff member to act in your behalf when you are absent from the Facility.

Committee Functions

• Serve on various committees of the Facility (i.e., Infection Control, Safety, QA, etc.) and provide written or oral reports of the housekeeping services and activities as required by the Committee’s guidelines or direction.

• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees (i.e., Infection Control, Safety, QA, etc.).

• Meet with housekeeping personnel on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the housekeeping department; assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

• Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.

• Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc.

Personnel Functions

• Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the housekeeping department’s needs.

• Recommend to the Administrator and/or HR Delegate the number and level of housekeeping personnel to employ.

• Assist in the recruitment and selection of housekeeping personnel.

• Ensure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee’s personnel record.

• Assign a sufficient number of housekeeping personnel for each tour of duty.

• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, cleaning schedules, etc., to expedite work

• Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of housekeeping personnel are on duty at all times.

• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other housekeeping personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Assistant Director, Supervisors, etc.).

• Assist in standardizing the methods in which housekeeping tasks will be performed.

• Review and check competence of housekeeping personnel and make necessary adjustments and corrections as required or that may become necessary.

• Counsel and discipline housekeeping personnel, as requested or as necessary.

• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.

• Terminate the employment of personnel when necessary, documenting, and coordinating such actions with the HR Delegate and/or Administrator.

• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.

• Provide complaints and grievance reports to the Administrator, as required or as may be necessary.

• Make daily rounds to assure that housekeeping personnel are performing required duties and to assure that appropriate housekeeping procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the Facility.

• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the Facility’s policies and procedures.

• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate housekeeping services to assure that care and services can be performed without interruption.

Staff Development

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling, etc., of in-service training classes, on-the-job training, and orientation programs for housekeeping personnel.

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

• Assume the responsibility for maintaining your professional competence through participation in programs of continuing education (i.e., housekeeping seminars, training programs, etc.).

• Ensure that all housekeeping personnel attend and participate in annual mandatory in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Lifting Technique, etc.).

Safety and Sanitation

• Supervise safety and fire protection and prevention programs by inspecting work areas and equipment at least weekly.

• Ensure that housekeeping personnel follow established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies at all times.

• Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies when lifting or moving heavy objects.

• Ensure that the Facility is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained and operable to perform necessary duties and services.

• Ensure that a stock level of housekeeping supplies, disinfectants, equipment, etc., is maintained to provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment.

• Ensure that current material safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals used by the housekeeping department are on file and easily accessible.

• Ensure that containers of hazardous chemicals in the department are properly labeled and stored. Report problem areas to the Safety Officer.

• Ensure that all housekeeping personnel are trained to use labels and MSDSs to recognize hazards and to follow appropriate protective measures.

• Develop, maintain, and implement infection control and universal precautions policies and procedures to assure that a sanitary environment is maintained at all times and that aseptic and isolation techniques are followed by all housekeeping personnel.

• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.

• Ensure that housekeeping personnel follow established hand-washing procedures.

• Assist the Maintenance Director in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for the housekeeping department.

• Ensure that housekeeping personnel follow established policies governing the use or disposal of personal protective equipment and disposal of infectious wastes.

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the Facility’s established policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

• Ensure that housekeeping policies and procedures identify appropriate safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injury.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department.

• Ensure that cleaning supplies used by the Facility for disinfection and decontamination purposes are EPA approved.

• Monitor housekeeping procedures to ensure that supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

• Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment used in the handling of infectious materials is available and easily accessible to housekeeping personnel.

• Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required.

• Ensure that equipment contaminated with blood or other infectious waste, is properly labeled or tagged before being sent for repair or decontamination.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Assist in preparing and planning the housekeeping department’s budget and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval.

• Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and costs reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary.

Resident Rights

• Ensure that housekeeping personnel at all times follows the residents’ personal and property rights.

• Ensure that housekeeping personnel inform residents when it is necessary to move personal possessions (i.e., cleaning, stripping floors, etc.).

• Review housekeeping complaints and grievances made by personnel, residents, family members, or visitors, and make oral or written reports to the Administrator.

• Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the housekeeping service areas (i.e., resident rooms, therapy rooms, dietary, etc.).

• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies or personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

• Communicates with housekeeping personnel and other department directors.

• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.

• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for housekeeping services or activities.

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma or GED.

Experience

• Must have, as a minimum, three (3) years experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital or other related medical facilities.

• Training in environmental control practices and procedures preferred, but not required.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to understand the English language.

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

• Must be knowledgeable of housekeeping practices and procedures as well as the laws, regulations and guidelines governing housekeeping functions in the nursing care facility.

• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

• Must have the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc., of the Housekeeping Department.

• Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., the appearance of housekeeping areas, and must perform regular inspections of resident rooms or units for sanitation, order, safety and proper performance of assigned duties.

• Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing housekeeping practices.

• Must have the ability to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

(With or Without a Reasonable Accommodation)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.

• Must possess sight and 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 meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this Facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.

• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

• Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Guidelines for Nursing Homes Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the American Conference Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values for Lifting the Facility has identified that this job may require the lifting of residents, equipment, or other objects. Accordingly, this job may require a minimum of 5 pounds and a maximum of 60 pounds lifting, periodically and or as needed.