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.