Devising activities for care home residents
The role of an activities coordinator is to develop, create and oversee social activities for people who need care and support.
Activity workers are responsible for planning and implementing an activity plan for each resident which will stimulate new interests and skills, and meet their individual needs.
They assist in promoting social, intellectual and other recreational activities.
Activities can be anything from individual hobbies through to organised group events.
They assist residents in arranging and participating in social activities within their care setting, which could be a residential care home, a community care setting or in an individual’s home, as well as outside in the wider community.
Activity workers need to be creative to develop diverse and engaging activities.
Activities co-ordinators will usually have experience of working with vulnerable adults in a residential, community or voluntary setting and have experience of organising activities for any of the following groups: older people, carers, and people with learning disabilities, mental health issues or physical disabilities.
Qualifications demonstrating sound literacy & numerical skills such as GCSE’s Grades A-C in Maths and English are usually required.
A Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care is also a desirable qualification for this role.
There are a number of smaller awards and certificates relevant for this role. For more information visit the Skill Selector.
Everyone working in adult social care needs English, number, digital and employability skills (including team work, problem solving, planning your ongoing learning and development and managing your own health and wellbeing.).
Together these are known as core skills.
Different roles require a different level of skill.
Here are a few examples of the core skills you might need as an activities coordinator. • Writing skills to write a risk assessment for a trip out. Speaking and reading skills to do a quiz. Digital skills to use SKYPE with someone you support. Team work skills to organise a themed event. Number skills to keep record of spending. You can find out more about the core skills needed to work in social care on our core skills web page. There are also resources available to help you develop your core skills. There are also apprenticeship schemes available for this role so contact your local authority to find out more information. • • • • • •