Nursing Home Activities Assistant 1 (NY HELPS) - 30504

About the role

The Nursing Home Activities Assistant (NHAA) 1 creates and modifies activities and programs based on residents’ interests and mental and physical needs to optimize enjoyment. The role arranges a mix of activities — including those provided through outside vendors, community involvement, staff delivery, and off‑site activities such as ball games and country rides — and coordinates activities and programs with other departments and residents’ schedules. The incumbent arranges refreshments and transportation as needed, assists in setting up and cleaning up activity rooms, and encourages residents to participate. The NHAA 1 observes resident attendance and degree of involvement, documents progress notes as required, and completes the Minimum Data Set (MDS).

Responsibilities

• Create and modify activities and programs based on residents’ interests and mental and physical needs.
• Arrange a mix of activities including outside vendors, community involvement, staff delivery, and off‑site activities (e.g., ball games, country rides).
• Coordinate activities and programs with other departments and residents’ schedules.
• Arrange refreshments and transportation as needed.
• Assist in setting up and cleaning up activity rooms for scheduled programs.
• Encourage residents to participate in activities and programs offered.
• Observe resident attendance and degree of involvement.
• Document progress notes as required.
• Complete the Minimum Data Set (MDS).

Qualifications

• Option 1: 12 semester credit hours in therapeutic recreation, arts, crafts, dance, drama, or physical education and one year of experience in direct client care in a geriatric setting.
• Option 2: High school or high school equivalency diploma and two years of experience in direct client care in a geriatric setting.
• Option 3: Four years of experience in direct client care in a geriatric setting.

Direct client care experience includes attending to patients' personal hygiene, grooming, nutrition, and daily living needs. Geriatric settings include skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, adult day care facilities, and senior centers. You must submit a list of qualifying courses with your application indicating course name, semester credit hours, school name, and date credits were earned. Degrees awarded outside the United States or its territories must be independently verified for equivalency (see https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm).

Pay

Posted salary range: $53,991 – $65,226 (includes a Downstate Adjustment of $4,150). For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate of the position (beginning of the salary range). Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations, and negotiated union contracts.

Benefits

• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more (benefits package worth approximately 65% of salary)

Additional Information

• One permanent, competitive full‑time appointment, or non‑competitive full‑time appointment via HELPS.
• This position is part of the NYS HELPS program; no examination is required.
• May require travel throughout New York State including overnights to areas not served by public transportation.
• The NYS Department of Health is committed to making New York a safer, healthier, and more equitable place to live; understanding health equity, social determinants of health, and health disparities is critical to this mission.
• If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, interview, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, contact 518‑486‑1812 or doh.sm.Reasonable.Accommodation@health.ny.gov.
• The NYS Department of Health does not participate in E‑Verify and does not sponsor visa applications.