Director of Recreation

Position Purpose:

Responsible for directing the development, implementation, supervision, and ongoing evaluation of the activities program. Directs the activity program by scheduling various groups and activities that are individualized to match the skills, abilities, and interests/preferences of each resident. The Recreation Director ensures the completion and/or directing/delegating the completion of the activities component of the comprehensive assessment; evaluation of resident response to various programs is essential in order to ensure that comprehensive care plan goals and approaches are effective.

Qualifications: 1) Must be eligible for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or activities professional by a recognized accrediting body on or after October 1st, 1990; or 2) Has 2 years of experience in a social or recreational program within the past 5 years—one of the 2 years of experience must be in a therapeutic activities program; or 3) Is a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or 4) Has completed a State-approved training course.

Educational Requirements: Associate or Bachelor’s Degree (preferred) in Recreational Therapy or related field.

Experience Required: 3+ years of progressive Activities/Recreation experience including supervisory experience. Previous LTC experience required. *See Professional Licensure and Certification requirements for further qualification information

Professional Licensure and Certification Required: National certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation (NCTR) or the following: Eligibility for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or as an activities professional by a recognized accrediting body on or after October 1, 1990; or has 2 years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last 5 years, one of which was full-time in a therapeutic activities program; or is a qualified occupational therapy assistant; or has completed a training course approved by NY state if applicable.

Interpersonal Relationships: Communicates effectively with residents, families, visitors, co-workers, physicians, and other employees.

Essential Functions

1. Directs the development, implementation, supervision and ongoing evaluation of the activities program.
2. Ensuring that programs offered encompass a wide variety of activities, both individual and groups, meet the needs of all residents based on their individualized plan of care.
3. Review department policies and procedures, annually, and participate in making recommended changes.
4. Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related activity needs of the resident.
5. Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
6. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of activity care plans and resident assessments.
7. Plans a variety of engaging activity programs 7 days/week (including evenings, weekend and holidays.)
8. Plans activities that are appropriate to the needs of the residents (includes but is not limited to: small and large group programs, individual pursuits, sensory activities, clubs, special interests, spiritual and religious activities, one to one activities, community outings).
9. Prepares a monthly calendar of activities that is posted in prominent areas and provided to every resident.  
10. Prepares a monthly staffing schedule that includes evening and weekend and holiday coverage.
11. Ensures that all documentation requirements are met (MDS, assessments, care plans).
12. Develops a system to record resident participation/attendance to activities/outings.
13. Participates in morning meeting, department head meetings, care plan meetings, and any other meeting as directed by the facility administrator.
14. Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program.
15. Ensure that all charted activity progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service residents as needed/required.
16. Participates in inspections (surveys) conducted by authorized agencies.
17. Incorporates age-specific needs, provision of care, procedures, and activities.
18. Orders appropriate supplies and equipment for the department.
19. Maintains allotted budget.
20. Plans a monthly resident council meeting (and any other resident committees such as food committee) and is the staff liaison for the resident council president and other resident executive committee members. Takes minutes of meetings and ensures that all resident concerns are addressed.
21. Organizes and coordinates special community outings with resident interests in mind.
22. Arranges regular entertainment, parties, seasonal programs and special events.
23. Plans and coordinates staff events at the request of the administrator.
24. Ensures that facility is appropriately decorated as per the holiday/season.
25. Supervises the volunteer program for the facility.
26. Coordinates community grass roots programming and serves as facility representative at local events.
27. Demonstrates the mission, vision, and values of the facility through professional excellence.
28. Exhibits calm behavior and uses professional judgement while working in a team approach during emergency situations.
29. Assists co-workers as needed and maintains positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues.
30. Exhibits professional conduct and behavior through cooperative interactions with others and accepts personal responsibility for their own actions.
31. Reports any change in condition of a resident to the appropriate supervisor.
32. Reports any resident care issues to the appropriate supervisor.
33. Effectively delegates responsibilities to the activities staff on a daily basis.

Staff Development Functions

1. Attends departmental meetings as scheduled to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or improvement of services
2. Participates in the orientation of new staff members to the facility and ensures that appropriate education and mentoring is in place.
3. Attends and participates in scheduled training and educational classes.
4. Attends and completes all mandatory in-service program.

Safety and Infection Control

1. Follows established protocol during fire drills and disaster training.
2. Follows established universal precautions and infection control policies and procedures when performing daily tasks.
3. Ensures that all work and resident care areas are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.

Resident Rights

1. Maintains confidentiality of all pertinent resident care information.
2. Knowledge of facility and state mandatory reporting practices regarding any suspected cases of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect.
3. Report all grievances/complaints made by the resident to your supervisor immediately.
4. Ensures that all residents are treated fairly with kindness, dignity, and respect.
5. Provides nursing care in a manner that ensures all residents are treated fairly and with kindness, dignity and respect.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All pay rates and bonuses are paid and/ or awarded to employees based on the facilities policy and/ or the CBA, depending on the position.