Activities Assistant - Westwood Post Acute

Reports to:  Activities Director

Department: Activities 

Purpose of Your Job Position:

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide each of your assigned residents with routine daily activities and services in accordance with the resident’s assessment and care plan, and as may be directed by your supervisors.

Delegation of Authority:

As an Activities Assistant, 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 your responsibility if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative Functions:

• Use the wristband or photo to identify residents before administering activities , serving meals, etc., as necessary.
• Use only authorized abbreviations established by this facility when recording information.
• Report all changes in the resident’s condition to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse as soon as practical.
• Report all accidents and incidents observed shift as they occur.
• Organize, implement and direct scheduled activities of a recreational, physical, educational, social and spiritual nature for residents both in groups and for individuals.
• Ensure participation of all residents and that activities offered can be applied to various levels of functioning according to recorded resident assessments.
• Assist the Activities Director in obtaining physician and responsible party clearance for pass for residents to go off campus for field trip events.
• Perform room visitations and activities as required by schedule and / or observed resident need.
• Assist the Activities Director with Resident Council meetings, as requested.
• Assist the Activities Director in interviewing of residents and creating plan of activities to be incorporated in to residents? overall care plans.
• Keep clear and concise documentation on logs and in resident charts of resident participation in activities as required by state regulations and facility policy.
• Maintain activity spaces and storage areas in a clean, organized and hazard free manner according to state regulation.
• Is consistently punctual for set up for resident activities. Transports residents to assigned locations for activity.
• Monitor and supervise residents at all times during activities to ensure resident safety.
• Assist in passing meal trays to residents at meal times. Ensure correct tray is given to correct resident.
• Assist and participate in hydration program.
• Be knowledgeable and follow all safety procedures and regulations established in the employee handbook and other policies.
• Assist patients at meal times

Personnel Function:

• Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors.
• Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Report all complaints and grievances made by the resident.
• Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work.  Inform the facility as soon as you are aware that you will not be able to report for duty.  It is best to give us at least 2 hours before the beginning of the shift to find your replacement.
• Notify your supervisor when leaving for a break or meal period and inform her/him when you return.  Ensure that someone will be responsible for your assignments while you are gone.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.  Complete an incident report.

Staff Development:

• Attend and participate in scheduled training and or any educational classes. 
• Attend and participate in scheduled orientation programs and activities.
• Attend and participate in advance directive in-service training programs as scheduled.

Safety and Sanitation:

• Participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident.
• Keep the nurses’ call system within easy reach of the resident.
• Immediately notify the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any resident leaving/missing from the facility
• Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
• Keep residents’ personal possessions off the floor and properly stored.
• Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately.
• Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor.  Store in designated areas.
• Ensure that residents’ personal items are stored safely and securely for their protection and for the protection of others.
• Before leaving work area for breaks, or at the end of the work day, store all tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse immediately.
• Report all safety violations.
• Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations
• Report any communicable or infectious disease to the Director of Nursing Services and/or to the Infection Control Coordinator.
• Follow established isolation precautions and procedures.
• Wash hands before entering and after leaving an isolation room/area.
• Follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.

Equipment and Supply Function:

• Use only the equipment you have been trained to use.
• Operate all equipment in a safe manner.
• Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job.  Do not be wasteful.  Do not hoard linens or other supplies.
• Report defective equipment to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
• Inform the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of your equipment and supply needs.

Care Plan Functions:

• Inform the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any changes in the resident’s condition so that appropriate information can be entered on the resident’s care plan.

Resident Right:

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information
• Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy.
• Knock before entering the resident’s room
• Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
• Report all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Report such requests to your supervisor.

Working Conditions:

• Works throughout the nursing service areas and activity area  
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with nursing personnel and other department personnel.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

Specific Requirements:

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.  Others must be able to understand your speech.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements: (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and physical exam
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at time, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 50 pounds to a minimum height of 3 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 10 feet.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.