Standards of Practice

Sample Job Description - Activity Director/Coordinator
Long Term Care

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Summary:

Ensures the coordination, development, implementation, and evaluation of the therapeutic activity program fro each resident in the facility. This program meets/exceeds all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and meets each resident's individual needs, as well as the needs of the residential community, in order for him/her to attain and maintain his/her highest practicable level of functioning.

Personal Characteristics:

• Sincere interest and desire to work with the frail elderly and others who reside in the long term care continuum.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to interact with residents, families, staff, and the public.
• Organizational, management, and motivational skills.
• Ability to function as a member of the interdisciplinary, activity, and facility team.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations regarding long term care and activities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all work-related matters.

Qualifications:

• Certification as an Activity Director or Consultant by the National Certification Council of Activity Professionals; or
• Certification as a Therapeutic Recreation Assistant by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification; or
• Qualified as an Occupational Therapist or Occupation Therapy Assistant; or
• Has two years experience in a social or recreation program within the past five years, one of which was full-time in a patient/resident activity program in a health care setting; or
• Has completed a state-approved training program.

Responsibilities:

Clinical:

• Assesses resident with regard to physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual abilities, needs, and interests.
• Assesses resident with regard to past interests, abilities, and lifestyle habits.
• Develops and implements an activity program which meets the individual and community needs of the residents.
• Develops an individualized activity plan of care and contributes to the interdisciplinary care plan.
• Provides accurate progress notes in acceptable format for the medical record.

Administrative:

• Develops (where necessary) and maintains an ongoing quality assurance program which effectively evaluates the activity program.
• Maintains accurate attendance records for all residents.
• Maintains an organized filing system of all departmental records.
• Ensures accurate fiscal management of the department's resources.

Managerial:

• Recruits, hires, evaluates, and terminates activity staff.
• Mentors and coaches staff.
• Follows facility policy at all times.

Professional:

• Participates in both facility and professionally sponsored educational opportunities.
• Develops facility in-service education program with regard to activities.
• Maintains membership in the appropriate local, state, and national professional organizations.
• Maintains appropriate certification level.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Dependent on facility structure, the activity director/coordinator may also assume responsibility for the Volunteer Department, public relations, the Beauty/Barber Shop, clergy relations, and Resident and Family Councils.

Revised by the Board of Trustees, April 2006, Reno, Nevada
Adopted by the Board of Trustees, November 1996, Washington, D.C.
Copyrighted. Use only with permission.

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