Journey Program Director
The Journey Program Director is responsible for the coordination of all clinical, programming, and staffing aspects of the Journey/Memory Care Program at the community. This includes pre-admission assessments and decision-making, resident programming, staffing, staff training, and supervision. Assist the resident and his or her family in maintaining the physical and emotional health of the resident. Liaison with hospital personnel, physicians, community organizations (to include the local Alzheimer's Association Chapter), and other health-related service agencies to provide care to the residents. Hire, evaluate, coordinate, motivate, monitor performance, schedule, and supervise department staff following company policy. Make recommendations to the Executive Director for staff evaluations, merit pay increases, reprimands, disciplinary actions, and terminations. This position is for Journey/Memory Care units with eighteen (18) or more residents—reports to: Executive Director or Health Services Director, as assigned.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential duties and responsibilities described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the basic functions of the position. While every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of the position, it in no way states 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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position
1. Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the Journey/Memory Care unit at the community, as well as its programs and activities, under the Federal and State policies governing dementia resident care.
2. Interview, hire, evaluate, coordinate, motivate, monitor performance, schedule, and supervise department staff according to the company policy. Recruitment and selection should focus on qualified candidates with an interest in the care and management of individuals with dementia. Make recommendations to the Executive Director concerning staff evaluations, merit pay increases, reprimands, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
3. Coordinate departmental schedule and ensure adequate staffing by company standards, policies, procedures, budgets, and state law.
4. Oversees continuing education programs for Care Managers serving dementia residents, as regulated by Federal and State licensing requirements.
5. Conduct orientation for new members of the department to ensure that all employees are knowledgeable of the goals, policies, and procedures for the department.
6. Arrange for coverage of job duties within the department during employee absences, either through delegation or personal completion of responsibilities.
7. Assume role as Activity Coordinator until Journey/Memory Care unit/community has attained a proper number of residents to warrant the hiring of a designated Activity Coordinator for Journey/Memory Care residents.
8. Ability and willingness to drive a community vehicle/van and obtain a commercial driver's license if required by vehicle/van capacity.
9. Conduct and coordinate the completion of resident assessment for the Journey/Memory Care program by current rules, regulations, guidelines, and company policies that govern resident assessment; administer pre-admission and periodic assessments to all residents and monitor status changes.
10. Ensure that an initial resident assessment is completed before each resident's move-in date, and a comprehensive care plan is completed upon move-in. Provide reassessments regularly.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Prefer two years of college in gerontology, nursing, social work, or a related health or human service field, or a licensed professional.
- Prefer two (2) years of experience providing residential care to the elderly or similar experience with specialized dementia care programs—ability to perform calculations in support of personnel actions, budget, and other financial responsibilities.
- Understand and conceptualize concepts as well as demonstrate the ability to make decisions in stressful situations.
- Be able to explain ideas and to communicate complex ideas to a wide audience (employees, residents, family members, governmental agencies, public, etc.), both in writing and verbally.
- Be proficient in basic office equipment (including a personal computer) to accomplish and maintain a high level of job performance.
- Must be mobile and able to perform the physical requirements of the job.
- Good physical health verified by a health screening, including a chest x-ray or an intradermal test result not more than 6 months before or seven (7) days after employment.
- Ability to show sincere compassion towards cognitively impaired older adults.
- Demonstrates genuine concern for the physical and emotional needs of older people and their families.
- Well-lighted office with appropriate ventilation and temperature levels.
- Ability to work in a secure area with heavy contact with a demented population.
- Employees must pass a criminal record check before beginning work in the community.
- Employees must possess current first aid training.
- Employee must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.