Resident Engagement Assistant

## Description

**PURPOSE**

The primary purpose of this position is to plan, organize, implement, and record therapeutic programs, including group activities, one-to-one interventions, facility and campus-wide events designed to meet the recreational, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs of persons residing at The Terraces, as well as the coordination of recreational needs of residents, including assessments, review and analysis, and serving as a member of the unit interdisciplinary team. Strive to achieve the intellectual, social, emotional, vocational, spiritual, and physical needs that comprise whole person wellness.

**EXPECTATIONS OF EXCELLENCE**

•  Understand and support the core values, mission, philosophy, and guiding principles of Immanuel Living.
• Provide consistent quality and valued service, while complying with Corporate and Department policies and procedures, and State and Federal regulations.
• Respect the privacy, confidentiality and possessions of those Immanuel Living serves and the Immanuel Living staff.
• Contribute to an atmosphere of positivity, teamwork, and mutual support, while leading by example.
• Look for the good in others and assume positive intentions. Be caring, compassionate, and hospitable, while acting with integrity and honesty.
• Ensure that a safe living and working environment exists.
• Attend work regularly and follow established work schedule. Manage use of work time wisely. May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours, including weekends, holidays, and other times, and in other positions, as necessary and is subject to call-back during emergency conditions.

**JOB RESPONSIBILITIES**

• Assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and documenting therapeutic recreation activities and programs, as assigned by the supervisor, including recording attendance, taking narrative notes on resident participation level, mood, etc., calculation of monthly attendance totals, ongoing notes, etc., regarding resident physical and cognitive status
• Demonstrate ongoing knowledge of and provides implementation of approaches indicated on individual care plans specific to the Resident Services Department, such as resident interests, recreation, leisure pursuits, and social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs
• Be responsible for case load of electively isolated and/or sensory-impaired persons for one-to-one interventions and visits that relate to individual needs identified on care plans
• Maintain knowledge of individual resident diagnosis, limitations, and needed adaptations for involvement in structured group activities and programs
• Understand, follow, and adhere to resident information, such as diet restrictions, etc.
• Understand Reality Orientation and Validation and apply these interventions, as appropriate
• Act as a role model by promoting and protecting residents’ rights in all interactions with residents and families
• Maintain recreation space in a clean and orderly manner that appears “homelike” and is safe for residents, including proper placement and use of equipment, supplies, etc.
• Greet everyone warmly, by name and with a smile.
• Plan and implement resident events with enthusiasm and attention to detail.
• Create meaningful resident experiences.
• Look for resident interests and connect them with opportunities in all dimensions of wellness. (Physical, Social, Emotional, Spiritual, Intellectual, Vocational)
• Provide safe, efficient and courteous service.
• Create an atmosphere of positivity and fun!
• Perform additional cleaning/organizational tasks, as assigned by supervisor
• Assist with planning, organizing, implementing, and documenting community outings
• Assist with, conduct, and plan facility and campus-wide special events, and participate in department and facility fund raisers
• Assist volunteers with implementing group activities and/or individual visits, as needed and assigned
• Assist with monthly calendar planning and distribution of individualized resident calendars in resident rooms and common areas
• Assist with information gathering for resident newsletter (resident interviews, reporting of resident information, etc.)
• Maintain resident interest target lists to be circulated weekly
• Complete individual tasks as assigned by supervisor, such as, but not limited to: seasonal bulletin boards, monthly birthday calendars, posting and announcement of daily social schedule, organization of Talking Book System, inventory and supply of arts and crafts materials, resident library
• Transport residents to and from group activities, dining areas, etc.
• Assist with delivery of residents’ personal mail, as assigned
• Maintain willingness to learn driving procedure to offer resident outings and trips
• Promote a healthy working relationship with all other departments for increased resident service
• Perform other tasks as assigned
• Perform other duties as assigned and/or required

Supervision / Leadership

• Serve as a role model for the Immanuel Spirit.
• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Decision Making

• This position may make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Decisions, final recommendations, and/or errors made by the incumbent may affect guests/residents and other staff in the unit/department that this position is assigned to but may, on occasion, affect all staff of Immanuel Living.
• Job duties typically involve frequently changing conditions and problems, requiring considerable judgment in applying factual background and fundamental principles to the development of approaches and techniques for the solution of problems.
• This position cannot authorize exceptions to corporate policy or procedures.

Documentation

• Complete documentation as required by this position.
• Assist with communication of department / campus / facility information via Stand-up, emails, resident information sheets, communication boards, etc.

Communication

• Effectively work and communicate with a wide range of individuals from all socio-economic groups, including geriatric guests/residents and those with special needs.
• Communicate on a regular basis with employees regarding information maintenance issues.
• Communicate verbally and in writing to other staff members regarding maintenance issues.
• Communicate with supervisor on a routine basis.
• Participate in training and/or meetings that help facilitate the departmental communication process.

Personal Interaction

• This position may interact with:
• Guests/residents, family members, and/or designees
• General public o Immanuel administrators, directors, managers, supervisors, staff
• Medical service providers, including physicians and pharmacists
• Other service providers or representatives
• Federal, State, Local government representatives
• Members of the media

Continuing Education

• Attend workshops and training sessions related to payroll, benefits, and long-term care, etc., as assigned by supervisor, and participate department meetings and monthly in-services.

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**

Language

• Read, write, and speak basic English to communicate effectively.
• Speak and hear common business English in personal interactions, classrooms and over telephone/VOIP.
• Read and comprehend basic instructions and present information to others.
• Read, interpret, and write routine reports and correspondence.
• Interpret and write general business documents or technical procedures.
• Effectively present to individuals and groups new concepts.

Mathematical

• Basic counting skills
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide simple numbers

Reasoning

• Apply common sense and understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Reason and create solutions to new problems related to assigned work.

Computer Skills

• Intermediate computer skills

**EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS**

Office Equipment

• Operate multi-line telephone to place, receive, transfer calls, and to retrieve voice mail messages.
• Operate fax machine to send or receive documents.
• Operate copier to copy, scan and collate documents.

Computer Software and Operating Systems

• Enter data accurately in Office applications.
• Operate personal computer with Windows operating system to start programs, input, format and edit data files, and print, or transmit data.
• Utilize computer spreadsheet (Excel) to input, format and edit data, and save, print, or transmit data.
• Utilize computer word processing (Word) to input, format and edit documents, and save, print, or transmit documents
• Utilize computer Internet/Email (Internet, Explorer) to access, send retrieve, save, print, or transmit documents or data files.
• Utilize proprietary, custom, or online programs or databases to input, format, edit data, save, print, or transmit data.

Specialized Equipment

• Wheelchair stay equipment on bus / van

**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE**

• Graduation from high school or GED preferred.
• Employee must have experience and knowledge of special populations, including general geriatrics, dementia, physical disabilities, etc.
• Employee must have at least one (1) year working experience in the field of recreation and/or activities in a senior living setting; however, this may be substituted with additional education or work experience with approval of the Director of Resident Services

**PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW**

• If working as bus driver on resident field trips, must maintain current First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Drivers license and record must be in good standing with the Montana Department of Transportation.
• Must complete Immanuel Living’s Eating Assistant course and become State-certified as an Eating Assistant when Immanuel offers the class.

**ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS**

• The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age.
• The incumbent must be a “self-starter”, able to prioritize work, perform multiple tasks, and work under time and/or deadline pressures.

**ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS**

• This position works in a temperature-controlled facility; however, the incumbent will need to travel between all buildings in all weather conditions.
• May be required to submit to periodic flu and other immunizations.
• This position may be exposed to:
• Biological fluids, including but not limited to vomit, urine, feces
• Blood-borne pathogens
• Occupational disease
• Risk of cuts, burns, shock, or other minor injuries not requiring hospitalization
• Unpleasant substances, odors, noises

*Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by management. Immanuel Living reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. Also, management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties or working schedules based on their duty to find reasonable accommodations, where possible, for individuals with disabilities. This job description does not constitute a written contract of employment.*