"Activities co-ordinator" - possibly the most blonde (I'm blonde before you all jump on me) question in the world.....

[MaMoTTaT]

I've worked in a care home before - did 1 1/2yrs as a care assistant..........but at night - so I did deal with the residents - but was never around during the day much (apart for going in for training) to see how the day to day stuff worked.

Seen a job advertised (very) locally for an Acitivities Co-ordinator for 20hrs a week - between 9am and 3pm ( - heaven on bloody earth as it's only 10 minutes walk from the school!!!.

Ok - now before you all go "duh - they organise activities" - yes I know that.

What do they actually do.

It's one of these "ring the manager direct" adverts - and I intend to ring tomorrow. What are they likely to ask, what can I tell them that may show that they should call me in for an interview immediately and give me the job straight away ).

God - I feel so thick

games, puzzles, quizzes, exercises, arts and crafts, reminiscence therapy, music and movement, gardening, baking.

you draw up a timetable and tailor it to the clients.

tada!

- nevergoogle - I knew someone would come along very quickly with an extremely obvious list of things for me to go "duh " at.

Would an activities co-ordinator be the person that would perhaps arrange for local music/small choir groups to come in and do a short performance thing once in a while as well for the residents as well do you reckon?

What does the ad actually say - activities for the whole local community/teenagers/any specific group of people? Is it a charity post?

I'd imagine they'd want someone with good administrative/organisational skills (don't you do church related admin-ey stuff? Or is that someone else?) - so you can identify a need for an activity and then find a venue, a provider, cost it, publicise it, etc? I'm basing this on what our local Extended Schools Co-ordinator does.

Good luck!

What nevergoogle said

Get the mobile hairdresser in.

Brownies coming to sing Christmas carols.

Key words are safety, quality & dignity

Talk about chair-based exercise programmes as a means of falls prevention

NICE falls guideline quick reference guide is worth a quick glance - mostly about healthcare but mentions general common sense things

Care Quality Commission website should have a few buzzwords to inspire you/impress manager

Good luck and make sure you take good care of them if you get it

yes, all that sort of thing.
also maybe taking a resident or two for walks or to the shops if nearby.
sounds like a lovely job.
would require enthusiasm and the ability to motivate i reckon.

i worked with a lovely activities co-ordinator in a job once who had infectious enthusiasm.

ad says

"Previous experience is not required. Duties are organising activities such as one on one and group sessions. Successful applicants are required to provide an enhanced disclosure. Disclosure expense will be met by employer. . ."

'tis a care home, mainly dementia residents (home I worked in before was mostly dementia residents as well).

Yes - I do some church related admin-ey stuff. Have just (again) arranged for the 2 local schools to come and sing in our church carol service.

I've also recently taken on the church newsletter (weekly thing), which does required administration (I get phone calls/notes through door/emails/collared at church - and in the streeet - regularly for stuff to go in it), and organisation - as has to be done by Sunday 8am each week.

I bet half of bloody town will apply for the job. 9-3 argh

I did also successfully complete my "introduction to health and social care" (level 1 course) with the OU last year too - covered loads of the basic stuff about care stuff.

(I'm always waiting to hear from McDonalds about a part time job I applied for online last week it's at the "considering" stage now )

bone of contention there about chair based exercises for falls prevention.
chair based exercises are good for strengthening, you need standing exercises to challenge balance however.
AGILE exercises are the most evidence based.

So Bob's your uncle then - you have the admin experience, you have the care home experience. You are the dream candidate.

Can you come up with some awe-inspiring activity you think dementia sufferers could benefit from? Can you think how you'd go about organising that?

dementia specific activities,
reminiscence games (naming film stars from photos is good)
orientation (reading the headlines, local news)
hand massage
target games
music and movement

there is so much scope. i want the job!

I may have this thread open tomorrow when I ring (it's ether that or I write it down ) - you're all great. You know when you know stuff, but you can't think of it because you're stressing - I'm a bit like that.

there was a fab bloke I saw came into the place I worked a few years back - came in and sang a load of "golden oldies" with them - they loved it.

BINGO - only because I love the game and I used to go upto the local care home and sit with a resident for bingo evenings - it involved the community as well.

Just remember you may not be sat in an office at the moment doing what they are asking but you have the experience and expertise required.

Good luck

cool, just be confident and try not to sound stressed.
you know what the job involves and you can be creative in your own way.
good luck!

If I was looking to employ an activities co-ordinator I'd be looking for someone who would work with the residents and their families to run a programme of activities that they actually want rather than what has always been done.

My mother looked at a home for my grandmother the other day which had a few computers in a room, together with an instructor to teach IT skills. We're now planning skype calls and emails (we live quite far away) where this has previously been impossible.

Good luck!

That's a good idea with computers - though residents with dementia are unlikely to be able to cope with that as their short term memory is poor and tends to be regressive - so more likely to "remember" things from when they were much younger rather than more recent stuff.

Certainly it would have been a non starter for the ones I worked with

Defintely agree though that working with the families and residents to plan activites is important. Looking at individual care plans, and finding out about their interests/likes/dislikes to make sure there's something they can enjoy/relate to

well i'd give you the job!

awww you're too nice nevergoogle

I genuinely think there'll be a lot of people go for it though. It's only the 2nd part time job in "normal" (8-6pm) working hours I've seen in a month!!" Majority include evenings/nights/weekends/very early mornings/split shifts etc

There may be a lot of people going for it but look at all the experience you have got and you have a sense of humour which is very important. Don't sell yourself short - think positive

Thanks Magna - will ring tomorrow and let you all know what happens.

well I rang - am off to change my shoes to something slightly smarter, and go and pick up and application form.

Got a bloody frog in my throat and must have sounded terrible on the phone - and she said can I just check you are over 18

Anyhow, will go and pick one up sortly as have plenty of time before I go and get DS3.....

Would it be really odd if I asked to have a little look around - you know to get the feel of the place - while I'm there - or is that a little presumptious??

oh and as a slight aside did a quick google for other ideas in case I was asked anything and found \link{http://www.thehappychickcompany.co.uk/index.html\this} - how cool is that!!!

Like the chicks and brilliant that you got an application form. Did you ask to look around when you went in.

Good luck

Hi Magna - no I didn't - bottled out when I got thre

have started another thread in this topic asking for help with the application form

McDonald's are (according to the online application status) still "considering"

Ha Ha - sounds like something I would do - don't worry you will see plenty of it when you get the job

Application forms nightmare but a necessity.