Assistant Director of Nursing & Wellness - The Bristal Assisted Living

The Assistant Director of Wellness uses his/her specialized knowledge to ensure the Resident’s care and management needs are being adequately and correctly met and assists the Director of Wellness as an additional liaison between Residents, the Residents Legal Representatives, their families, administrative staff, and community-based service providers. Responsibilities include the direct supervision of the Wellness and Reflections Unit; motivation, supervision, and in-service training/education of the Resident Service Aides.

The Assistant Director of Wellness will assure compliance with company policy and the State Health Department’s regulatory requirements for the admission and discharge procedure as well as appropriate documentation requirements.  Additional responsibilities include in-service education on health/wellness related topics and on the spot training to address identified performance concerns and/or improvements.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, the Assistant Director of Wellness assists the Director of Wellness in the development of the Resident’s individual plan of care through collaboration with the Resident, the Resident’s family or Representative, the Resident’s primary care physician, the property Management Team, and any appropriate third-party providers.  The Assistant Director of Wellness provides primary Resident supervision and acts as support to Residents, oversees admissions and discharges processes; provides orientation, social/emotional support, arranging for needed services; provides off-site visits and evaluations to residents in hospital and rehabilitation centers, and maintains Wellness/Reflections nursing notes as per company policy. 

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Administrative Services:
   1. Responsible for overall supervision of the Resident Services Department in the absence of the Director of Wellness
      1. The Assistant Director of Wellness will cross cover responsibility for the overall supervision of Wellness and Reflections
   2. Must be familiar with and able to implement emergency procedures as outlined in the Emergency and Disaster Plan.
   3. Responds to all requests for information and all other activities as directed by the Executive Director, Director of Wellness, and/or the Vice President of Clinical Services.
   4. Responsible for the 24-hour, 7 days a week operation of the Wellness / Reflections Unit when the Director of Wellness is absent/unavailable:
      1. Monitor proper scheduling and assignment of staff for Reflections Program in accordance with company policy and State Health Department regulations
      2. Work collaboratively to find adequate coverage as needed in Wellness and Reflections
      3. Available and responsive to staff and/or Management and/or Resident’s families/providers for immediate consultation 24/7
   5. Maintains on-going infection control surveillance, OSHA standards, universal precautions and basic sanitation and safety in Wellness Office and the Reflections Unit inclusive of the Resident’s apartments
   6. Assures the accuracy of Resident records and documentation in adherence with company policies as well as regulations of the State Department of Health
   7. Assures the medication management system adheres to State and local Department of Health laws and regulations and company policies, as well as Memory Care requirements:
      1. Assures thorough reviews of Medication Administration Records to include “chart to cart” audits, review of pre-MARs and final MARs.
      2. Addresses all findings as a result of the review and develops appropriate training strategies to address such findings
   8. Follows the company policies and procedures related to incident reporting and notifications as well as State Department of Health Regulations
      1. Maintains incident report records
      2. Informs the Director of Wellness and the Executive Director of all incidents
   9. Maintain active community and professional relationships to support positive promotion of the company.
      1. Develop contacts with community agencies serving senior citizens and clergy and refers residents where/when appropriate.
      2. Maintain a liaison with facility and the community nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living facilities.
   10. Conducts, at the beginning of every shift, an observational walk-through of the entire Reflections Unit to ensure no issue or concern needing immediate attention
   11. Conducts daily observational walk-through of the Main Dining Room/Reflections Dining Room to assure Residents are appropriately groomed and dressed
   12. Conducts supervised weekly scheduled checks of Reflections Resident’s apartments
   13. Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Wellness, the Executive Director, and Vice President of Clinical Services.
   14. Monitor and maintain documentation on the Emergency Response System to ensure compliance, reporting findings to the ED as required
2. Resident Supervision:
   1. Acts as Resident advocate and assists administrative staff in their continued service to the Resident
      1. Visits with each Resident to evaluate their concerns
      2. Refers all Resident complaints and/or concerns to the Director of Wellness and/or Executive Director for immediate investigation and resolution
   2. Provides oversight to the admission process of the Resident to include:
      1. Appropriateness and accuracy of the Resident’s physician evaluation for sign off on same
      2. Conducts (or delegates as appropriate) Initial Level of Care Evaluation of Resident prior to admission into the community and follow-up evaluation as per company policy and State Department of Health regulations.
      3. When indicated, assures completion of Behavioral Health evaluation as per company policy and State Department of Health regulation.
      4. Provide initial and ongoing orientation to facility for new Residents.
      5. Acclimate Resident and introduces them to other Residents. 
      6. Encourage Residents to participate in social activities.
   3. Inform ED, Director of Wellness and Department Heads of the general well-being or Residents as well as their ability to live in the Assisted Living setting.
   4. Conduct as per company policy and State Department of Health requirements functional evaluations to identify Resident’s status and/or change in status and to determine the type and level of assistance needed:
      1. Develop and update each Resident’s service plan(s), functional evaluation, and other pertinent evaluations at specified intervals and when a change in Residents’ status warrants.
      2. If delegated by ED or Director of Wellness, communicates change in Resident status to the Resident’s Representative and appropriate Administrative/Corporate Business staff;
      3. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of providers, as well as the Resident and/or Resident’s Representative in the development of the Resident’s Individualized Service Plan on admission, appropriate revision within 30 days thereafter, and every 6 months;
      4. Monitor the Wellness and Reflections Communication Logs daily for any unusual occurrences or changes in resident’s status and records and insures interventional strategies appropriately;
      5. Ensure all corporate policies and procedures and State Department of Health Regulations for Assisted Living Residences, Special Needs Program are followed and maintained;
      6. Supervise Wellness and Reflections Unit staff to ensure that Residents receive appropriate care and activity program.
      7. Ensure monthly support groups are conducted for families in the Reflections programs
   5. Coordinate care with the Department Heads, Resident’s physician, and other third-party providers:
      1. Collaborate with the Director of Wellness to assist residents with referrals to pertinent agencies when needed; i.e., Long Term Care insurance forms, nursing homes, social services agencies, Able Ride, etc.
      2. Assist with hospital, skilled nursing facility, rehab centers, et al, with transfers and discharges and liaises external staff and discharge planner to determine suitability of Resident to return to facility:
         • Conduct off site visits as indicated/requested by ED/ Director of Wellness.
      3. Act as a liaison with Resident’s personal physician and other healthcare providers.
      4. Refer Resident service problems to the appropriate Department Managers and Director of Wellness and Administration as necessary.
   6. Develop and keep accurate Resident records in compliance with company policy and regulatory rule:
      1. Collaborate in the development of the Resident service/care plans with Dietary Manager, (nutrition consult where indicated), Director of Recreation, Director of Wellness, Resident’s primary care physician (and consultant specialists), third party providers (particularly home health) and the Resident’s family/Legal Representative.
      2. Document necessary social, recreational, physical, emotional, mental / behavioral health findings, needed and ordered interventions, and eventual outcomes
      3. Review visiting and outside physician and provider notes and implement any changes in prescribed management as ordered by physician,
   7. Assure annual physician evaluations and, where indicated, behavioral health, pain, cognition, wander, fall, skin integrity evaluations;
   8. Oversee and document review of Residents who are self-administering medications to ensure continued competency and report all findings to ED, Director of Wellness, Resident’s physicians and Representatives – follow up as needed and indicated;
   9. Conduct skin observations on Residents, documenting findings to maintain compliance, and report findings for follow up.
3. Staff Education, Development, Supervision and Evaluation:
   1. At the request of the ED and/or Director of Wellness:
      1. Interview, recommend for hire and promotion, train, supervise, evaluate, discipline, and refer to ED and Director of Wellness for termination:
      2. Supervise care staff as well as providing care to Residents
      3. Conduct and/or schedule staff in-services to improve the quality of care to respond to both individual and global staff identified needs
      4. Maintain in-service schedules to meet State Department of Health requirements as well as company policy
      5. Assure in-service training, competency observations
      6. Assure Medication Aides are in compliance with all State Department of Health training, documentation of delegated tasks, and ongoing in-services requirements
   2. Assist in maintenance of personnel files including documentation of health evaluation, needed immunization and communicable disease clearances, certifications and/or licensure, et al;
   3. Conduct periodic health seminars for the Residents and/or Residents’ families in collaboration and coordination with the Director of Recreation.
   4. Monitor Emergency Response System to identify concerns, address findings, assure compliance and report findings to ED for follow up as needed
   5. Oversight of the staff audit process as delegated by the Director of Wellness
      1. Conduct and monitor staff completion of audits including but not limited to: ERS, Controlled Substances, Medication Administration Records, Medication Carts, Resident medical files and Resident care
      2. Report findings of the audits to the Director of Wellness
      3. Assist ED and Director of Wellness with plans of corrections based on findings; follow ups as required to ensure staff and findings are in compliance
   6. Follow all workplace injury procedures, including completion of reports for timely reporting and issuing corrective action when necessary.
   7. Adhere to and uphold company policies and procedures.