Therapy Aide at WMCHealth

Job Summary

• The primary purpose of your job position is to assist in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of recreational, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual programs, in accordance with the residents assessment and care plan, and as may be directed by your supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Administrative Functions
  • Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and evaluating the activity programs of Mountainside Residential Care Center, including comprehensive, individualized activity programs and for other residents with dementia
  • Observe resident attendance, mood, behavior, and degree of involvement so that Mountainside Residential Care Center activities and resident progress are evaluated, by noting, reporting, and charting resident behavior.
  • Participate in community planning related to the interests of Mountainside Residential Care Center and the services and needs of the resident and family.
  • Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessment.
  • Interview residents or family members to obtain activity information.
  • Involve the resident/family in planning activity programs when possible.
  • Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.
  • Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
  • Refer resident/families to appropriate social service personnel when Mountainside Residential Care Center does not provide the services or needs of the resident.
  • Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of Activity Aide.
  • Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.
  • Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Activity Director adjustments in activity programs that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities.
  • Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance program for activity department.
  • Participate in Mountainside Residential Care Center surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary.
  • Ensure that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and indicate the residents response to the service.
  • Arrange transportation for field trips when necessary.
  • Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Activity Director as required.
• Committee Functions
  • Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of Mountainside Residential Care Center as appointed.
  • Participate in regularly scheduled review of resident discharge plans.
  • Attend daily staff meetings to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.
• Personnel Functions
  • Develop and maintain a good working rapport with other departments within Mountainside Residential Care Center to assure that daily activities can be performed without interruption.
  • Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest continuity and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout Mountainside Residential Care Center.
  • Report occupational exposures of blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.
  • Assist in developing volunteer activity assignments.
• Staff Development
  • Assist in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs that relate to the activity department, including dementia in-services.
  • Attend and participate in professional activities and programs.
  • Participate and assist in department studies and projects as assigned, or that may become necessary.
  • Attend and participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that may result in exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, or hazardous chemicals.
  • Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.
• Safety and Sanitation
  • Report all incidents/accidents immediately.
  • Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately.
  • Follow established ergonomics policies and procedures (e.g., a back brace and/or a mechanical lifter are used when lifting or moving heavy objects).
  • Participate in fire safety and disaster preparedness drills.
  • Use protective clothing/devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
  • Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.
  • Assist in preparing activity rooms/areas for scheduled activity programs.
  • Assist in cleaning up activity areas after completing activity functions.
• Equipment and Supply Functions
  • Recommend to your supervisor the equipment and supply needs of the activity department.
  • Operate activity equipment in a safe manner.
  • Use activity supplies in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
  • Assist in the moving/arranging of equipment/supplies to assure that activity areas are ready for scheduled activity functions.
• Care Plan Assessment Functions
  • Assist in developing a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each residents activity program that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified
  • Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.
  • Follow the care plan in providing daily activities for the resident.
  • Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.
• Budget and Planning Functions
  • Assist in the development of the departments budget.
  • Purchase department supplies and clothing and personal items for the residents.
• Resident Rights
  • Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
  • Knock before entering a residents room.
  • Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Activity Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow Mountainside Residential Care Centers established procedures.
• Miscellaneous
  • Implement activity procedures as directed by the Activity Director by creating decorations, setting up necessary equipment, creating ceramics, needlework, woodwork and other crafts, escorting residents to and from activity areas, and awarding prizes.
  • Assist in making appointments for the residents as requested.
  • Assist in scheduling movies, planning parties, and providing games/activities for residents.
  • Encourage residents to participate in hobbies and crafts. Provide materials as necessary.
  • Supervise activities as necessary.
  • Befriend residents to encourage resident self-esteem by visiting and conversing with residents on a regular basis.
  • 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 educational development through reading, etc.
  • Conduct individual, and/or group, remotivation and reality orientation sessions to promote the worth, self-esteem and reality level of the residents.
  • Oversee the residents engaged in scheduled activities to promote the physical, social, and mental well-being of residents by applying experience in activities and knowledge of diagnoses and conditions of residents.
  • Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Activity Director.
• Working Conditions
  • Works in office areas as well as throughout Mountainside Residential Care Center.
  • 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, etc.
  • Communicates with the medical staff, nursing services, and other department supervisors.
  • Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, 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 day, as well as 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 materials.

Qualifications/Requirements

• EXPERIENCE
  • None required. On-the-job training provided.
• 
  EDUCATION
  • Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent
• 
  LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
  • None
• 
  OTHER
  • Must posses drivers license.
  • 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, visitor, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
  • Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
  • Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.
  • Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activity services.
  • Must be able to relate information concerning a residents condition.
  • Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• 
  SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
  • N/A

Physical Requirements

• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
  • Light Work: involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds
• 
  OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
  • Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
  • Must be able to cope with mental and emotional stress of the position
  • Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
  • Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
  • Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of Mountainside Residential Care Center which include a medical and physical examination.
  • Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times, hostile people within Mountainside Residential Care Center.
  • Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of twenty (20) pounds to a minimum height of four (4) feet and be able to push, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of two (2) feet.
  • May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.