Environmental Services Director

Job Description

Job Description

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Environmental Services Director

Position Summary

The Environmental Services Director is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and daily operations of the Environmental Services Department within the skilled nursing facility. This position ensures that the facility maintains a clean, safe, sanitary, comfortable, and welcoming environment for residents, staff, visitors, and healthcare providers.

The Director oversees housekeeping, laundry, sanitation, infection prevention practices related to environmental services, and department staff. The position works closely with Nursing, Infection Prevention, Maintenance, Dietary, and Administration to maintain regulatory compliance and support high-quality resident care.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesDepartment Leadership

• Direct, supervise, and evaluate Environmental Services staff, including housekeeping and laundry personnel.

• Develop staff schedules, assignments, and coverage to ensure adequate departmental staffing.

• Train, coach, and mentor employees regarding cleaning procedures, infection prevention, safety, customer service, and facility expectations.

• Maintain departmental policies, procedures, and performance standards.

• Conduct regular rounds to evaluate cleanliness, sanitation, safety, and overall environmental conditions.

• Address resident, family, and staff concerns regarding housekeeping, laundry, or environmental services in a timely and professional manner.

Housekeeping and Sanitation

• Establish and maintain effective cleaning and disinfecting programs throughout resident rooms, common areas, offices, treatment areas, dining areas, and other facility spaces.

• Ensure appropriate cleaning and disinfection products, equipment, and procedures are used according to manufacturer instructions and facility policy.

• Monitor high-touch surfaces and high-risk areas for appropriate cleaning frequency.

• Ensure isolation rooms and areas requiring enhanced environmental cleaning are appropriately managed.

• Maintain adequate supplies of cleaning products, paper products, personal protective equipment, and other Environmental Services materials.

Laundry Operations

• Oversee the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of resident and facility laundry.

• Ensure laundry is handled in accordance with infection prevention and facility procedures.

• Monitor linen and clothing inventories and maintain appropriate par levels.

• Ensure laundry equipment is maintained and operational and report maintenance concerns promptly.

• Establish processes to reduce lost, damaged, or misplaced resident clothing and personal items.

Regulatory Compliance and Infection Prevention

• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and facility policies related to environmental services.

• Work closely with the Infection Preventionist to implement and monitor infection prevention and control practices.

• Participate in facility surveys, inspections, audits, and corrective action plans as requested.

• Maintain required Environmental Services documentation, logs, inspection records, and quality assurance records.

• Ensure staff are trained and competent in proper use of chemicals, personal protective equipment, cleaning equipment, and infection prevention procedures.

• Support the facility's emergency preparedness and response plans as they relate to Environmental Services.

Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement

• Participate in the facility's Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.

• Establish departmental quality indicators and monitor performance.

• Identify trends, deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement and develop corrective action plans.

• Track and follow up on resident concerns, environmental rounds, audits, and quality issues.

• Maintain a proactive approach to preventing deficiencies and improving resident satisfaction.

Safety and Staff Management

• Promote a safe working environment and ensure employees follow facility safety policies.

• Monitor proper handling, storage, labeling, and disposal of chemicals and hazardous materials.

• Report workplace injuries, accidents, environmental hazards, and equipment concerns according to facility policy.

• Participate in hiring, onboarding, disciplinary actions, performance evaluations, and termination processes as appropriate.

• Maintain confidentiality of resident, employee, and facility information.