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Mental Health Technician

University Behavioral Health of Denton
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POSITION SUMMARY

The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from adolescent through geriatrics, depending on which unit worked. Mental Health Techs work under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High School Degree or equivalent preferred; Certified Nursing Assistant preferred; Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, recreational therapy or appropriate therapeutic discipline preferred.

Experience:  One year of related experience with knowledge of psychiatric patient care

techniques with understanding of mental illness preferred.

Licensure:   Maintain a valid driver's license in the applicable state preferred.

Additional Requirements: Successful completion CPR certification, Handle with Care, and Verbal De-escalation within 30 days of employment prior to assisting in restraining procedures. May be required to work overtime. Will be required to maintain flexibility and can manage high stress/acute psychiatric environments. 

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

THE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE CATEGORIZED UNDER THE JOINT COMMIISSION STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE.

Assessment

  1. Take and record vital signs properly.
  2. Utilize sound judgment during assessment and observe and documents any changes in a patient's appearance, work toward treatment plan goals.
  3. Communicate changes in patient's condition to the nurse.
  4. Document all areas on observation rounds as required by policy, attestation requirement, and per procedures.

Treatment Planning

  1. Follow the therapeutic interventions outlined by the treatment team for each patient.
  2. Ensure awareness of patient's individualized plan of care including goals and interventions.
  3. Provide information to the nurse that assists in the development and revision of the
    treatment plan.
  4. Document the treatment plan, nursing interventions and the patient's response to the intervention.

Intervention

  1. Ensure intervention is based on the patient's plan of care.
  2. Employ appropriate crisis intervention techniques as needed.
  3. Employ facility approved Handle with Care (HWC) techniques as necessary.
  4. Assist patients through the discharge process.
  5. Assist patients with personal hygiene and activities of daily living.
  6. Complete incident reports for special interventions.

Milieu Management

  1. Comply with the established policies and procedures requiring a safe, clean and therapeutic environment.
  2. Practice universal precautions and environmental safety guidelines.
  3. Recognize and respond to priorities in patient care responsibilities.
  4. Supervise and assist patients in all patient areas.
  5. Check patients for contraband and manage the patient's valuables and belongings.
  6. Report potential crisis situations to the nurse and respond in an appropriate fashion.
  7. Ensure patient safety through continuous supervision of patient.
  8. Always establish and maintain a professional therapeutic relationship with patients.

Teaching

  1. Teach the patient proper hygiene and ensure adherence to hygiene methods.
  2. Carry out teaching activities identified in the treatment plan.
  3. Model and teach appropriate social skills.
  4. Reinforce the importance of medication compliance and monitor activity of compliance.
  5. Participate in group activities per schedule and document in observation rounds forms, program fidelity sheets.

Performance

  1. Assume responsibilities for the completion of all patient care responsibilities.
  2. Act as the patient's advocate and assure that patient's rights are upheld.
  3. Comply with established measures for infection control, OSHA regulations, and risk management.
  4. Comply with the Employee Code of Ethics.
  5. Adhere to all facility and personnel policies and procedures.
  6. Participate in continuous Performance Improvement activities.
    7.     Other duties as assigned.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adolescent Patients Ages 13 through 17)

  • Maintain knowledge of the Adolescent Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines.
  • Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and makes note of any deviations in behavior.
  • Recognize acting out behavior of adolescent specific age group and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behavioral and non-judgmental terms based on the age of the patient.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of learning disabilities and translates treatment/program expectations to the learning-disabled adolescent.
  • Professionally manage adolescent patients in an age-appropriate manner.
  • Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures per policy with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of adolescents, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues.
  • Act as a resource to other staff regarding the Adolescent Patient Programs.

Specific Standards for the Care of Adult Patients Ages 18 and older

  • Gather information from the patient, family and interdisciplinary team and use judgments based on knowledge of adult behaviors in treatment planning and interventions.
  • Recognize behaviors and set appropriate limits in clear, concise, behaviors and non-judgmental terms.
  • Utilize seclusion/restraint procedures applicable to adult body size and past history of violent or emotional behaviors.
  • Maintain current knowledge of the Adult Program rules, protocols and handbook guidelines.
  • Utilize theoretical concepts to guide the effective practice of adult care within Specific Standards of Care for this age group.

Specific Standards for the Care of Chemically Dependent Patients

  1. Assesses patient needs as related to chemical dependency and document the plan of care from the admission through discharge.
  2. Collaborate with other chemical dependency staff professionals in planning for discharge and follow-up care.
  3. Maintain an awareness of how personal issues relating to co-dependency can impact work performance/relationships.

Additional Standards

  1. Adhere to facility, department, corporate, personnel and standard policies and procedures.
  2. Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled.
  3. Adhere to facility standards concerning conduct, dress, attendance and punctuality.
  4. Support facility-wide quality/performance improvement goals and objectives.
    5.     Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.
    6.     Adhere to all policies and procedures.

Note: The job functions of this position are not limited to the duties listed above

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES WHAT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS POSITION SHOULD CURRENTLY POSSESS. THIS LIST MAY NOT BE COMPLETE FOR ALL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

  1. Knowledge of all psychiatric and medical procedures.
  2. Knowledge of personal hygiene training techniques.
  3. Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.
  4. Knowledge of aggressive behavior management techniques.
  5. Thorough knowledge and training in CPR.
  6. Knowledge of admitting procedures.
  7. Knowledge of discharge process.
  8. Knowledge of appropriate documentation.
  9. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
  10. Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
  11. Effective oral and written communication skills.
  12. Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.
  13. Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures.
  14. Ability to use good judgment and to maintain confidentiality of information.
  15. Ability to work as a team player.
  16. Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience, and dedication.
  17. Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.
  18. Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
  19. Ability to participate in all aspects of patient care management.
  20. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
  21. Ability to meet corporate deadlines.
  22. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPECIAL DEMANDS

MODIFICATIONS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS JOB MAYBE PERFORMED WILL BE REVIEWED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

  1. Ability to stand, sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours.
  2. Ability to move frequently is required in the delivery of patient care.
  3. Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
  4. Ability to spend 20% of the workday outdoors in temperatures varying form 30°-100°F and 80% of the workday indoors in temperatures varying from 60°-85°F.
  5. Ability to occasionally push/pull wheeled carts from 200 lbs. (i.e., crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs).
  6. Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs. (i.e. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 100 lbs. (a patient).
  7. Ability to frequently reach above, at or below shoulder height (obtain supplies, reach in cabinets, use refrigerator), kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist.
  8. Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping, twisting and fingering of small objects (telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands).
  9. Ability to operate a van in a safe manner.
  10. Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors.
  11. Ability to occasionally handle hazardous/infectious waste.
  12. Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and steam are frequently generated in housekeeping tasks.
  13. Ability to work at a rapid pace and tolerate a variety of repetitive tasks.
  14. Ability to manage high stress environments.
  15. Communicate effectively with leadership, supervisor staff, and nursing scheduler.
  16. Be flexible in assignment and hours of work.
  17. Meet contractual obligations, if applicable.

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER WORK AIDES:

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES THOSE MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER WORK AIDES AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS POSITION MUST BE ABLE TO USE.

  1. Medical and nursing equipment and supplies.
  2. Telephone and paging systems.
  3. Art equipment and supplies.
  4. Gym equipment and supplies.
  5. Policies, procedures, plans, and program manuals.