Mental Health Technician

Overview

Depending on candidate qualifications, this role can be hired as a Mental Health Tech, Certified Mental Health Tech, or Lead Mental Health Tech.

Functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing direct and indirect patient care, under the supervision of the Registered Nurse. Provides for the personal care and comfort of patients. Provides a safe, clean environment. Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.

Responsibilities

Patient Care* Recognizes and responds to priorities in patient care.*Takes full accountability for patient safety while on duty.*Is compliant with precautions such as suicide or elopement and checks patients meticulously for contraband.*Conduct patient observation checks at Q15, or random intervals, as clinically directed.*Performs daily vital sign evaluations, or as needed at clinical discretion, for patients.*Facilitate patient groups, AM check-in group and PM wrap-up group.*Engage in shift report to exchange vital behavior observation to registered nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists.*Participate with registered nurse to assist with skin checks, issue unit clothing and hygiene supplies, and provide orientation to the unit for new patient admissions.* Demonstrates ability to set limits for patients.* Assists patients with all activities of daily living including personal hygiene needs. Teaches patient proper hygiene.* Employs appropriate crisis intervention techniques as required, such as verbal de-escalation and physical hands-on approaches such as application of mechanical restraints.* Acts as patient advocate ensuring patient rights are upheld. Maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment at all times.* Performs searches of patients, their belongings, and the rooms on a routine basis for contraband.* Facilitates a positive therapeutic environment. Ensures the integrity of the program by providing high quality groups and activities as scheduled. Maintains consistency of milieu structure and predictability.* Demonstrates responsibility for observation and application of sound therapeutic practices for decision making.* Contributes to treatment plan with feedback to nurse and program staff to achieve therapeutic interventions.* Role models and teaches appropriate social skills to patients.* Supports the treatment plan and provides feedback to nurse and program staff to achieve treatment goals.* Maintains safety during meal times and during visitation and phone times.* Establishes trusting, therapeutic, effective relationships with psychotic, demented, and other alternatively functioning patients to meet treatment goals.  Education* Participates in creating and sustaining a learning environment supported by evidenced based practice and research.* Focuses on personal development areas, engaging in professional/collegial interactions with peers and students.* Work collaboratively with peers and other healthcare providers, and participate in ongoing in-services and educational seminars.* Participates in the mentoring and education of colleagues and students.  Documentation* Maintains and completes all documentation and patient records in EMR.  Compliance/Safety* If required for position, ensures all certifications and/or licenses are up-to-date and valid prior to expiration dates.* Completes all company mandatory modules and required job specific training in the specified time frame.* Responsible for reporting any safety related incident in a timely fashion through the Midas/RDE tool; attends all safety related training programs; performs work in a safe manner; monitors work environment for possible safety issues and ensures others are also performing work in a safe manner.* Maintains timely documentation of assessments, interventions, EMR entries, and patient responses.* Adheres to regulatory and organizational standards affecting patient care and safety as well as all hospital and departmental policies and procedures.* Stays current and complies with company policies that impact the employees area of responsibility.* Practices in a safe and cost effective manner.

Qualifications

Education

• Mental Health Tech/Certified Mental Health Tech
  • High School Diploma or GED - Required
  • Associate Degree – Preferred
• Lead Mental Health Tech
  • Bachelor Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice or related health and human services degree – Required

  Certification & Licensures

• Mental Health Tech
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) required within 3 months of hire date
  • BLS (American Heart Association) certification - Required within 30 days of hire
  • Fingerprint Clearance Card application number -Required upon hire
  • Fingerprint Clearance card- Required within 90 days of hire
• Mental Health Tech Certified/Lead Mental Health Tech
  • Unrestricted Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate - Required
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) required within 3 months of hire date
  • BLS (American Heart Association) certification - Required within 30 days of hire
  • Fingerprint Clearance Card application number -Required upon hire
  • Fingerprint Clearance card- Required within 90 days of hire

  Experience

• Mental Health Tech: Minimum (2) years of experience in Behavioral Health or related health field – Preferred
• Mental Heath Tech Certified/Lead Mental Health Tech: Minimum (2) years of experience in Behavioral Health or healthcare related field – Required

 Healthcare is a rapidly changing environment and technology is integrated into almost all aspects of patient care. Computers and other electronic devices are utilized across the organization and throughout each department. Colleagues must have an understanding of computers, and competence in using computers and basic software programs.