Life Enrichment Director

The Activity Coordinator will assume administrative authority, responsibility and accountability for the provision of a program of therapeutic activities designed to meet the interests and enhance the functional abilities and self-esteem of each resident. Manages all activity personnel to provide activities according to the facility philosophy and consistent with state and federal laws and regulations. In collaboration with the Executive Director, allocates resources in an efficient and economic manner to ensure each resident achieves the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.

Essential Job Functions:

NOTE: The essential functions of this job may be revised or updated as facility needs dictate.

• Conducts assessments and gathers information to design Activities program that meets the functional levels, needs and interests of each resident.
• Interviews residents, interested family members, legal representatives and significant others to obtain and update information needed to develop individualized Activities programs, to accommodate individual needs and preferences and to protect and promote residents' rights.
• Works cooperatively with members of the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and evaluate plan of care. Attends care conferences. Develops Activities interventions as part of the comprehensive plan of care. Communicates resident concerns and responses to interventions to interdisciplinary team members and to direct care staff~
• Develops and provides individual, group and bedside Activities for residents that reflect interests of residents, are offered at hours convenient to residents (morning, afternoon, evening, weekend), that appeal to all age groups, both men and women, take place in a variety of locations and include special and seasonal events. Posts monthly Activities calendar.
• Provides Activities to residents confined to their rooms that reflect life-long interests such as music, reading, visits with people of shared interests and in-room projects that the resident can work on independently or with staff assistance.
• Provides structured Activities to meet the needs of cognitively impaired residents such as music events, gross motor games or outdoor walks. Seeks ways to adapt Activities so all residents can participate such as segmenting Activities into simple steps, providing verbal prompts, physical support, demonstration and hand-over-hand assistance when the resident is unable to complete a task independently.
• Identifies ways to accommodate resident choices, preferences functional capacity and customary routines in Activities pro~ Includes these approaches in plan of care and gives this information to direct care staff.
• Develops and implements effective procedures to ensure that all residents are informed that Activities are occurring that staff encourage participation and that transportation is provided.
• Records progress notes in the clinical record including subjective findings, objective symptoms, observations of behavior, interventions provided to resident and resident's responses to activity interventions. Audits chart entries written by Activities staff for completeness, accuracy.
• Performs quality assessment and assurance functions, including daily regulatory compliance rounds, observation of Activities in progress on units, record reviews and interviews with staff members, residents, families and Administration. Identifies problems in Activities staff performance and institutes corrective action.
• Develops and updates Activities policies and procedures that reflect the philosophy and mission of the facility, professional standards of Activities practice and state and federal laws and regulations.
• Participates in the development of the department budget. Provides relevant financial information to Executive Director regarding department financial needs and status.
• Communicates with Executive Director on daily basis to discuss resident care, personnel and budget issues. Develops sting plan and recommends to Executive Director numbers and types of Activities personnel needed to meet resident needs in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Hires and retains qualified competent Activities staff to provide therapeutic Activities to attain or maintain highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well being. Conducts interviews, provides regular performance reviews, takes appropriate job actions, reviews job actions taken by subordinates to assure that staff meet qualification and performance standards and can perform all essential functions of the job.
• Actively participates in long term care survey process by instructing staff in matters of conduct and disclosure, maintaining a presence at all times surveyors are on-site and directing the timely collection of information required by the survey team. Demonstrates concern for identified problems and undertakes corrective action while survey is in progress if appropriate. Gathers and presents supplemental documentation to avoid potential deficiencies. Collaborates with Executive Director to develop responses to survey report as needed.
• Reports injury of self or others to Unit Charge Nurse immediately.
• Maintains current skills and knowledge through continuing education. Applies information to job responsibilities.
• Participates in fire and disaster drills. In event of an emergency, carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety.

Minimum Qualification Standards

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent.

Certificate/Licenses: Licensed or registered (if applicable) by the State of Wisconsin and eligible for certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or as an Activities professional by a recognized accrediting body;

or,

Two years experience in a social or recreational program within the past5 years, with 1-year full-time employment in a patient Activities program in a health care setting;

or,

Qualified as an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant; or, satisfactory completion of an approved training course in the State of Wisconsin.

Work Experience: See, above.

Freedom from illegal use of drugs, and freedom from use and effects of use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

Persons who have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting or mistreating individuals in a health care related setting are ineligible for employment in this position.

Performance Requirements:

• Current knowledge of standards of professional Activities practice. Able to apply these principles in long term care setting and to establish criteria to ensure that services provided meet established standards of quality.
• Able to develop diverse Activities program, available during days, evenings and on weekends, that is responsive to individual resident needs, that provides stimulation or solace, that promotes physical, cognitive or emotional health and enhances each resident's functional abilities.
• Able to implement Activities interventions that achieve treatment goals, address resident needs, link social supports, physical care and physical environment to enhance quality of life.
• Current knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations that apply to practice of Activities in long-term care.
• Demonstrates satisfactory level of interpersonal skills to interact with residents, families, community and government agencies, and interdisciplinary staff.
• Management skills sufficient to oversee the organization of department staff to develop budgets, allocate resources and to supervise interdisciplinary cooperation in the planning and implementation of individual resident plans of care.
• Able to perform personnel functions including interviewing prospective staff, conducting performance evaluations that assure staff can perform essential functions of their job, and taking job actions as appropriate. Able to apply facility policies to facts leading to job actions without regard to race, religion, age, national origin, sex or disability.
• Able to express self adequately in written and/or oral communication and to communicate effectively in an interdisciplinary care setting with residents, families, staff members, representatives of community and government agencies.
• Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions. Able effectively to communicate with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions. Able to act as role model for unit staff by protecting and promoting residents' rights in all interactions with residents and families.
• Carries out all duties in accord with the facility mission and philosophy. Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property.
• Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency.
• Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of facility out of danger in case of emergency.
• Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time and to report for duty as scheduled on all shifts, weekends and holidays.
• Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials.

• Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time.
• Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks (projects as assigned.
• Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current task of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others.

Physical Psychological And Ergonomic Requirements:

Successful performance of essential functions can best be achieved through consistent application of current knowledge, use of good judgment, common sense, ability to establish and carryout priorities, effective use of interpersonal skills and ongoing communication with residents, staff, families, interdisciplinary team members, and government officials, including state surveyors and ombudsmen.

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour residential care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to; shift rotation, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in the nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

Essential functions are carried out in a variety of positions including standing and sitting. To meet residents' needs, virtually all positions require the ability to move freely through the building. Stooping, bending, lifting and carrying, as well as other physical demands may be required as described in the Essential Physical Demands of this position.