Director of Housekeeping/Laundry at Sunset Home – Quincy, Illinois

SUNSET HOME

JOB DESCRIPTION

DIRECTOR OF HOUSEKEEPING/LAUNDRY

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Housekeeping/Laundry Department in accordance with current Federal, State, and local standards, guidelines and regulations governing our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that our facility is maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable manner, and to assure that an adequate supply of laundry/linen is on hand at all times to meet the needs of the residents.

As the Director of Housekeeping/Laundry, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, 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 a logical assignment to the position.

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments, its programs and activities.

Develop and maintain written policies and procedures for Housekeeping and Laundry.

Assist your staff in the development and use of departmental policies and procedures, and the use of equipment, supplies, etc.

Review the departments’ policies, procedures, job descriptions, etc., at least annually for revisions, and make recommendations to the Administrator.

Interpret the departments’ policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.

Assume administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments.

Coordinate services and activities with other related departments (i.e., Dietary, Nursing, etc.).

Make written oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator as necessary/required concerning the operation of these departments.

Assist the Infection Control Coordinator and/or Committee in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.

Inspect storage rooms, utility closets, linen closets, and work areas for upkeep and supply control.

Ensure that laundry personnel handle, sort, wash, and distribute laundry and linen in accordance with the facility’s infection control policies and procedures governing such tasks.

Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.

Review and develop a plan of correction for deficiencies in your departments noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the Administrator.

Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in housekeeping and laundry services that assure the continued ability to provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment, as well as provide an adequate supply of laundry and linen to our residents.

Perform administrative duties such as completing necessary forms, reports, evaluations, studies, etc.

Maintain contact with vendors, who provide services to our facility, (i.e., laundry services, rug cleaning services, etc.).

Delegate a responsible staff member to act in your behalf when you are absent from the facility.

Other duties that may become necessary, or as directed by the Administrator.

Serve on various committees of the facility (i.e., Safety Committee, QA, etc.) and provide written/oral reports of the services and activities provided by the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments as required by the committees’ guidelines or direction.

Meet with department personnel on a regularly scheduled basis; solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments; assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

Attend department head meeting, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.

Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the departments’ needs.

Recommend to the Administrator and/or Personnel Director the number and level of personnel to be employed in these departments.

Assist in the recruitment and selection of laundry personnel.

Assign a sufficient number of personnel for each tour of duty.

Schedule department work hours (including vacations, holidays, personal days, etc.), personnel, work assignments, cleaning schedules, etc., to expedite work.

Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of personnel are on duty at all times.

Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties.

Assist in standardizing the methods in which tasks will be performed.

Review and check competence of personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary.

Counsel/discipline personnel as requested or necessary.

Review complaints/grievances made or filed by department personnel. Provide reports to Administrator regarding such complaints/grievances as required.

Make daily rounds to assure that personnel are performing required duties and to assure that procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the facility.

Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate housekeeping/laundry services to assure that care and services can be performed without interruption.

Attend and participate in inservice educational classes, on-the-job training programs, etc., as scheduled or as directed.

Assume the responsibility for maintaining your professional competence through participation in programs of continuing education (i.e., seminars, training programs, etc.).

Ensure that all housekeeping/laundry personnel attend and participate in annual inservice training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.

Supervise safety and fire protection and prevention programs by inspecting work areas and equipment at least weekly.

Ensure the established safety regulations are being followed in the use of equipment and supplies at all times.

Ensure that the use of safety equipment and supplies (i.e., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) is being used when lifting or moving heavy objects.

Ensure that the Laundry Department is maintained in a clean and safe manner by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained and operable.

Ensure that the facility is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained and operable to perform necessary duties and services.

Ensure that a stock supply of disinfectants, equipment, etc., is maintained to provide a clean, safe, and sanitary environment.

Ensure that current material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for hazardous chemicals used by the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments are on file and easily accessible.

Ensure that containers of hazardous chemicals in the department are properly labeled and stored.

Ensure that all personnel are trained to use labels and MSDSs to recognize hazards and to follow appropriate protective measures.

Develop, maintain, and implement infection control and universal precautions protocols to assure that a sanitary environment is maintained at all times and that aseptic and isolation techniques are followed.

Ensure that housekeeping and laundry personnel follow established handwashing procedures.

Be sure a sharps container is located in the laundry room.

Assist the Director of Physical Plant in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures for the housekeeping and laundry departments.

Ensure that established policies governing the use/disposal of personal protective equipment and disposal of infectious waste are followed.

Ensure that policies and procedures identify appropriate safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injury.

Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s established policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Others that may become necessary/appropriate to assure that our facility is maintained in a clean, safe, and comfortable manner.

Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of your departments.

Ensure that cleaning supplies used by the facility for disinfection and decontamination purposes are EPA approved.

Monitor housekeeping/laundry procedures to ensure that supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment used in the handling of infectious materials is available and easily accessible to housekeeping/laundry staff.

Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required.

Ensure that equipment contaminated with blood or other infectious waste, is properly labeled/tagged before being sent for repair or decontamination.

Assist in preparing and planning the Housekeeping/Laundry Departments’ budget and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval.

Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary.

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident information.

Ensure that housekeeping/laundry personnel follow the residents’ personal and property rights at all times.

Ensure that housekeeping personnel inform residents when it is necessary to move personal possessions (i.e., cleaning, stripping floors, etc.).

Investigate resident/family complaints of lost or missing clothing. File reports in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

Review housekeeping/laundry complaints and grievances made by personnel, residents, family members, or visitors and make oral/written reports to the Administrator.

Knock before entering a resident’s room.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Works in all areas of the facility.

Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours.

Is subject to frequent interruptions and may need to reschedule cleaning activities accordingly.

Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.

Communicates with housekeeping and laundry personnel and other department supervisors.

Is willing to work beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.

Is subject to call-back during emergency situations.

Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as reactions from dust, disinfectants, etc. May be exposed to infectious waste, disease, conditions, etc., including exposure to the AIDS and Hepatitis B Viruses.

May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for housekeeping and laundry services/activities.

Must possess, as a minimum, a high school diploma.

Must have, as a minimum, 2-3 years experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital or other related medical facility. Must be trained in the operation of laundry equipment, practices, and procedures. Training in environmental control practices and procedures preferred, but not required.

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.

Must be knowledgeable of housekeeping and laundry practices and procedures as well as the laws, regulations, and guidelines governing housekeeping and laundry functions in a long-term care facility.

Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.

Must have the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc., of the Housekeeping and Laundry Department.

Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., the appearance of work areas, and must perform regular inspections of laundry areas, resident rooms/units for sanitation, order, safety and proper performance of assigned duties.

Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.

Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices.

Must have the ability to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.

Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to functions adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability work effectively with the residents, personnel, and support agencies.

Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and physical examination.

Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.

May be required to lift, push, pull, and move equipment and supplies, etc., a minimum of 25 pounds, and up to 50 pounds, throughout the workday.