Student Activities Director jobs in Sacramento, CA

Reports to:  Administrator

Department: Activities

Purpose of Your Job Position:

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Activity Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, facility policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that an on-going program of activities is designed to meet, in accordance with the comprehensive assessment, the interests and the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident. 

Delegation of Authority:

As Activity Director you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions:

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way state 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 the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the activity programs of this facility.
• Assist in the development administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.
• Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related activity needs of the resident.
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments.
• Interview resident/families as necessary and in a private setting.
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required.
• Involve residents and families in planning facility activity programs.
• Refer resident/families to appropriate social service personnel when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of activity programs.
• Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually.
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the activity department.
• Maintain a productive working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Review and evaluate the department’s work force and make recommendations to the Administrator.
• Coordinate activities with other departments as necessary.
• Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the activity department.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in activity programs that assure the continued ability to provide daily activities.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Review and develop a plan of correction for activity deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy to the Administrator.
• Assist the quality Assessment and Assurance committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related activity functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken.  Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the activity department.
• Interview residents or family members to obtain activity information.
• Ensure that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service.
• Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining a quality activity program.
• Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the residents.
• Meet with administration medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning activity programs.
• Other duties as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the administrator.

Committee Functions

• Serve on various committees of the facility as appointed.
• Prepare written and/or oral reports of the Activity program to submit to such committees as directed and implement recommendations as instructed.
• Participate in and provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee for the purpose of identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.
• Participate in the Safety Program
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Care Plan Conferences.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the discharge plans.
• Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.

Personnel Function

• Ensure that a sufficient number of activity assistants are available to ensure that quality service is maintained.
• Assure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee’s personnel record.
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules).
• Develop work assignments and responsibilities.
• Delegate to each activity assistant the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform his/her assigned duties.
• Counsel/discipline activity personnel as requested or as necessary.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations. 
• Review and check competence of activity personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary.
• Make daily rounds to assure that activity personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate activity programs are being rendered to meet the needs of the residents.
• Terminate employment of personnel when necessary, documenting and coordinating such actions with the Human Resources Department/Payroll Department.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-department personnel, as well as other departments within the facility and also with outside agencies to ensure that the activity needs of the residents can be met.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.

Staff Development

• Participate in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs in relation to the social, emotional and medical needs of the residents.
• Attend and participate in professional activities programs.
• Participate and assist in departmental 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 bloodborne pathogens standard.

Safety and Sanitation

• Wear non-slip shoes per facility policy.
• Report all incidents/accidents immediately.
• Practice safety policies and procedures of the facility.
• Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately.
• Complete environmental safety checklists, quarterly.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.
• Practice infection control policies and procedures of the facility.
• Use protective clothing/devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
• Ensure that the activity personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department.

Resident’s Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Knock before entering a resident’s room
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report. Refer to the Social Services Department as needed.
• Report all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.  Complete required forms. Send reports to required agencies and to the facility abuse coordinator.
• Inform the resident/family of the resident’s personal and property rights.
• Assist resident with information concerning resident rights.

Working Conditions

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the facility.
• 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 the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.
• 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.

Qualifications for the Position

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in a human service field, including but not limited to recreational therapy, sociology, special education, and psychology is desired, but not essential.  

Experience

• Must have, as a minimum, six months of supervised experience in a health care setting.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions. 
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing activity procedures.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or 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 workday.
• 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 examination. 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 25 pound 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.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.