Northampton County will require all newly hired employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before beginning employment with the County. This policy applies to all new hires who receive an offer of employment on or after December 1, 2021.

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must successfully submit a completed application prior to the posting deadline. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Once the posting closes, all applications will be reviewed. The information provided on the application will be utilized to determine whether or not each applicant meets the Minimum Requirements for this position as noted in the Job Description. We encourage all applicants to provide a comprehensive, concise history of their education, certification, licensing, and employment history. Please read the Minimum Requirements thoroughly and then demonstrate that you meet these requirements on your application.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at or 610-829-6382.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Life Enrichment Director position is responsible for the organization, planning, direction, and conduct of a diverse program to the residents of Gracedale Nursing Home, and the supervision of the work of lower level staff and volunteers. The individual in this role is responsible for practicing ethical and professional behaviors related to the field of Life Enrichment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to the Assistant Nursing Home Administrator.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position is responsible for supervision over the following classifications: Life Enrichment Assistant Director, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) / Activity Professional, and Life Enrichment Recreation Aides.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

Develops, implements, and oversees the conduct of a diversified life enrichment program for all residents to meet social, intellectual, cultural, and recreational needs.

Supervises the evaluations of new admissions and referrals, designing individualized care plans, ensuring plans are aimed at patients' highest levels of psychosocial and physical functioning.

Ensures documentation of participation in life enrichment programs including evaluations, and plans and progress notes.

Provides information and recommendations as part of interdisciplinary care plan meetings. Reports changes in residents' condition or activity level to appropriate patient care staff.

Identifies need for changes to policies and procedures for life enrichment services. Drafts, recommends and/or develops such policies and implementation procedures.

Evaluates effectiveness of overall programming and individual activities. Makes necessary changes. Coordinates life enrichment activities with activities of other departments.

Maintains program and operational standards in compliance with Federal, State, and professional organization accreditation regulations.

Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of lower level staff members. Assists in selection of staff, providing orientation, life enrichment education, in-service training, and evaluations of life enrichment staff. Approves leave requests, appraises performance, and carries out other personnel management functions for staff.

Responsible for administrative duties such as payroll, scheduling staff and activities, participation in QAPI meetings and evaluations, Abaqis, creating and reviewing department policies and procedures, etc.

Responsible for evaluating and monitoring animals/participants in the pet therapy/family pet visitation program. Must be comfortable and confident dealing with animals.

Develops assignments for effective utilization of volunteer works in recreational programs.

Attends lectures, conferences, and training sessions.

Provides information for use in, and administration of, budget, procurement program, and related administrative processes.

Keeps supplies and equipment for activities at required levels. Reports need for maintenance and/or repairs, identifies and develops liaison with internal and external resources for programming. Coordinates efforts with those of educational, social, recreational, and other community organizations.

Responsible for the transportation of residents to and from activity programs in-house and via the Gracedale Bus.

Ensures availability of and arranges for transportation.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree in Occupational Therapy, or an alternative degree with major course work in the field of recreation or occupational therapy; OR

The possession of an Activity Professional Certification such as Activity Directors Certification (ADC), Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), or Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR); AND

At least two (2) years experience in a long-term patient care facility which has included experience designing and implementing programs; AND

Must attend Feeding Program training; AND

Must possess a valid and current motor vehicle operator's license with a clean driving record.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS - Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and present valid proof of vaccinated status, in order to be eligible for hire at Gracedale Nursing Home. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people are considered fully vaccinated two (2) weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), or two (2) weeks after a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine).

Upon hire employee must have a drug screening and COVID-19 testing. Employees may also be periodically tested for COVID-19 as required or recommended. In addition, Gracedale Nursing Home will follow The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements with regard to booster(s) needed for workers in health care settings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of goals, objectives, principles, and practices pertaining to life enrichment in long-term care.

Thorough knowledge of life enrichment methods and techniques applicable to individuals in an inpatient nursing facility.

Thorough knowledge of physical, mental, emotional, and other factors affecting residents' needs, interests, and capacities.

Knowledge of governmental regulations and requirements governing life enrichment.

Knowledge of the organization, functions, and operations commonly found in inpatient care facilities, and their relationship to the administration of life enrichment services.

Ability to plan, assign, and review the work of lower level staff members and volunteers engaged in providing life enrichment services.

Ability to assess individual patient needs, design activity plans to address those needs, and coordinate efforts with medical, social, and other care.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, representatives of social, community, and other organizations, and residents, including securing their participation in life enrichment activities.

Ability to use a computer and associated software programs, as needed.

Ability to maintain records of activities and prepare reports of the same.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, paper shredder, and life enrichment equipment including operation of Gracedale Bus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally support and/or maneuver heavy patients of limited physical capacity.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in resident care and activity room environments, and other locations within the community.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud in resident care areas and in activity groups.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA EXEMPT (NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OT)

DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE

PAY GRADE: CS-24

UNION STATUS: CAREER SERVICE NON-UNION

Updated September 2022