Purpose of Your Job Position

Premier Healthcare of New Harmony is seeking a full time Activity Assistant. Premier Healthcare of New Harmony located in historic New Harmony at 251 Hwy 66, New Harmony, IN 47631.

As an Activity Assistant, you will work with Activity Director in developing and implementing recreational programs during scheduled times. You will direct and aid in such activities as games, arts and crafts, groups, and entertainment to assist residents to develop relationships, socialize effectively, and develop confidence. You will also prepare notes and documentation of resident activities.

The primary purpose of the Activity Assistant position is to assist the Activity Director to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Activity Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator and/or Activity Consultant, to assure that an on-going 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.

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.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Administrative Functions

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the activity programs of this facility.

Assist the activity director in development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.

Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards of practice, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.

Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.

Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related activity needs of the residents.

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 resident/families as necessary and in a private setting.

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

Involve residents and families in planning facility activity programs.

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.

Provide information to resident/families as to Medicare/Medicaid eligibility, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident, if necessary.

Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of activity programs.

Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually.

Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the activity department.

Maintain a productive working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.

Review and evaluate the department's work force and make recommendations to the Administrator.

Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.

Work with the facility's activity consultant and implement recommended changes as required.

Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel.

Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the activity department.

Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.

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

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

Review and develop a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such report to the Administrator.

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

Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility's established procedures.

Assist the Quality Assessment & Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.

Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the activity department.

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

Interview residents or family members to obtain activity information.

Ensure that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service.

Maintain a reference libarary of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that awill rovide assistance in maintaining a quality activity program.

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

Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning activity programs.

Arrange transportation for field trips when necessary.

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.

Participate in the review/completion of appropriate resident assessment items, review of quality indicators, quality measures, survey results, appropriate to activity services and make necessary changes that correct identified or potential problem areas.

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

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Committee Functions

Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as appointed by the Administrator.

Provide written and/or oral reports of the programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s).

Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans.

Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to activity services.

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

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

Personnel Functions

Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of personnel for the activity department.

Determine departmental staffing requirements, necessary to meet the activity department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of activity personnel for each tour of duty.

Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of activity personnel to be employed.

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

Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other activity personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties and responsibilities.

Counsel/discipline actiivity personnel as requested or as necessary.

Terminate employment of personnel when neceaassary, documenting and coordinating such actions with the HR Director and/or Administrator.

Assist in standardizing the methods in which actiivity programs will be performed and/or administered.

Review and check competence or activity personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary.

Maintain an excellent working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate the activity program to sassure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.

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

Make daily rounds to assure that activity personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate activity programs are being rendered to meet the needs of the resident.

Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures.

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

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

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

Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job", and ensures a well educated activity department.

Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.

Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the activity department.

Encourage the supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.

Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the activity department.

Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.Ensure that all department personnel attend and participate in facility mandatory in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPaa,AA, Abuse Prevention, etc.).

Assessment and Care Plan Functions

Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the activity needs of each resident.

Develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the gaoals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.

Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of the resident's plan of care.

Assist in the scheduling of activity care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.

Ensure that all activty personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily activities for the resident.i

Review nurses'notes to determine if the activity care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the DON.

Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly.

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.

Miscellaneous

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

Supervise activities as necessary.

Develop and maintain an activity schedule.

Provide reading materials in Braille, tapes, and records as necessary.

Assist in providing library service for residents through cooperation with local library.

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 bed residents by visiting with them, writing letters, running errands, making appointments, etc., as necessary.

Encourage residents to develop their eeducational development through reading, etc.

Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the consultant or administrator.