Recreation Director

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Position Description:

The Recreation Director is responsible for developing, implementation and supervising a full scope of recreation services in the nursing home to stimulate customers to have fuller and richer lives. He / she plans individual and group recreation services, both therapeutic and general, supervises recreation assistants and volunteers. The Recreation Director is a member of the interdisciplinary and management team of the nursing center. Plans the recreation services by implementing corporate philosophies and policies of the services, writing procedures, goals and objectives for the program, and by establishing an individualized recreation plan based upon each customer's needs, interests and abilities; Serves as a member of the center management team; contributes to committees within the center (Restraint Reduction, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Behavior Management, Restorative Nursing Program, Safety); Plans programs based on the customer's needs, interests and abilities, encourages customer involvement in recreation services planning, and posts the monthly schedule of activities; Documents the recreation services and customer's progress within activities. Maintains records that improve future planning, individualized approach and continual evaluation and revision; trains and oversees documentation of recreation services; Contributes to the development of the customer care plan through the interdisciplinary team, applies the role of recreation services to all identified problems, and complies with government standards for documentation; Implements meaningful recreation services for all customers, (including individual recreation interventions) that includes implementation of creative, intellectual, physical, service, social and spiritual programs each week that provide opportunities for participation in community activities and opportunities for customers to be of service for others; Provides resources for the special interests of customers, whenever possible, as well as, materials for independent activity. While a schedule of a variety of group activities is important, flexibility in the program for spontaneous activities is also necessary; Evaluates the effectiveness of the recreation services in terms of enhancing the quality of the customer's life, based on goals and performance objectives of the program, and evaluations from customers, families, staff, volunteers, resource people, administration and consultants. Serves on and reports to the center Quality Improvement committee. Evaluations should be done quantitatively and qualitatively because the activity program is revised based on the results of the evaluations; Works efficiently and cooperatively with the administration and staff by contributing to the orientation of new staff, by participating as a team member, by interpreting goals and methods of the recreation program to all staff, and by communicating information regarding the health and welfare of customers to staff; Should provide regularly scheduled in-service for the interdisciplinary team on the benefits and value of recreation involvement; Provides supervision to recreation staff and volunteers to achieve delivery of quality recreation services to elders residing in the site; Participates in various center committees, plans activities to avoid conflict with treatment plans, and accepts and delegates responsibility; Maintains cooperative relationships with members of the customers' families by orienting family members to recreation services, by encouraging families to participate in the volunteer and activity program, and by encouraging families to evaluate and make suggestions for the recreation program; Remains actively involved with the community, and endeavors to educate community members to the worth of the individuals who reside in the center, the worth of those who work there, and the value of the center and its role as a part of the total community. Also utilizes community resources in the programs and encourages community organizations to include customers in their events; Concerns his/herself with the safety of all center residents in order to minimize the potential for fire and accidents. Also, ensures that the center adheres to the legal, safety, health, fire and sanitation codes by being familiar with his/her role in carrying out the center's fire, safety and disaster plans and by being familiar with current MSDS; Prepares the yearly budget for the recreation department. Monitors the budget on a monthly budget, reporting variances; Establishes and maintains an effective volunteer program through recruiting, screening, orienting, training, supervising and evaluating volunteers. The Director must then match the skills and interests of volunteers with the skills and interests of the customers. Incentives and recognition are to be established for volunteers by the Director; Accepts professional obligations and commitments to professional development, by actively supporting local, state and national organizations for the Recreation/ Activity Coordinator, participating in basic and continuing education through professional organizations and educational institutions, keeping abreast of Federal, State and local requirements regarding activity programming, as well as current developments in long term health care, and by identifying and correcting deficiencies in knowledge and skills; Acts as a resource person to staff, other Recreation/Activity Coordinators and community organizations while demonstrating a positive and objective approach to observations and action; Maintains confidentiality when dealing with customers, their families and records, demonstrate a knowledge of rights and concerns for the welfare of all customers in the center, and effectively communicates with individuals and groups by establishing regular written communication through the use of a newsletter format to the community; Puts Customer Service First: Ensures that customers and families receive the highest quality of service in a caring and compassionate atmosphere which recognizes the individuals' needs and rights; Performs other duties as requested.

Qualifications:

Certification in accordance with regulatory agencies governing the center, by the National Certification Council of Activity Professionals (ADC) or the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (CTRS). Bachelor degree in therapeutic recreation preferred or completion of the NAAP/ NCCAP Basic and Advanced Management Course for Activity Professionals. Two (2) years experience in recreation services for elders.