Job Title: Outpatient Mental Health Technician

Supervised by: Program Manager

Job Summary: Must be able to lift and transfer patients using good body mechanics to prevent injuries. Must be able to work on feet for 8-hour shifts. Some physical demands are varied due to unpredictability and somewhat high-risk environment associated with working geriatric acute and chronic psychiatric patients. Must be able to perform in an interrupted, constantly changing type of environment. Job hazards include risk of personal injury and/or exposure to communicable diseases and activity associated with psychiatric patients with the potential to lose control.

Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older. Must have high school diploma or equivalent, college background preferred. Must be able to obtain vital signs as described in the typical duties above. Completion and certification in a formal nursing assistant program or Mental Health Technician course preferred. One year experience in a related field or as a MHT preferred.
• Must have clean driving record.
• Chauffer's license is preferred.

Description of activities or skills:

• Performs all aspects of direct patient care including hygiene.
• Delivers care not requiring a license and under direct supervision by licensed staff.
• Takes vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration. Documents vital signs onto the graphic record accurately.
• Recognizes and reports abnormal vital signs to nurse in a timely fashion.
• Assists nurses, physicians, and patients during treatments, procedures, exams, etc. Also, assists patients with specimen collection.
• Orients new patients to the program upon admission.
• Assists with admissions, transfers, and discharges of patients as instructed.
• Provides a clean, comfortable, safe and therapeutic environment for patients, staff and visitors.
• Assists patients with nourishment, snacks and meals
• Performs program cleaning duties as instructed by the Program Director
• Provides care to patients in a manner that considers patients rights.
• Assists with transports in and outside the facility.
• Intervenes to decrease panic in disturbed patients
• Observes patient behavior for changes in order to intervene appropriately or report to appropriate person.
• Remains in patient areas for meals, breaks, or errands off the facility property.
• Sets limits on a patient’s behavior with the assistance of a professional staff.
• Encourages independent behavior in appropriate patients.
• Completes all required annual in-services
• Participates and attends program staff meetings.
• Participates and attends committee meetings as assigned
• Participates in clinical staffing as instructed by the Program Director
• Attends and participates in therapies, including social work group therapy and other programmatic groups offered by other disciplines as directed.
• Demonstrates an active interest in patients by making appropriate contact with these patients, communicating with patients, and maintaining a supportive, empathetic and respectful therapeutic style.
• Keeps consistently abreast of applicable facility policies and procedures and immediately conforms to changes in them
• Implements fire/safety/disaster/code when necessary under the direction of the Program Director.
• Serves as a role model for patients and peers.
• Collaborates with members of other disciplines
• Maintains a good working relationship with the nursing, medical and ancillary staff and patients and visitors
• Adheres to all facility and personnel rules and regulations .
• Makes frequent patient contact to evaluate the needs of the patients.
• Adheres to the established dress code.
• Monitors and reports maintenance, safety, or housekeeping problems to supervisor, completes appropriate admission forms and forwards to the appropriate persons
• Functions as a visitor escort and monitors visitation as instructed by a supervisor
• Must demonstrate adequate communication skills to allow for effectiveness in working within the treatment program.
• Will demonstrate a proficiency in the following skills and personal attributes:

i. Good grooming and appearance

ii. Courteous diplomatic manner

iii. Good reading comprehension and spelling ability

iv. Neat and legible handwriting

v. Ability to work well with others

vi. Ability to follow orders

vii. Punctual and dependable in attendance

viii. Uses discretion in handling confidential information regarding patients, personnel, and facility policies.

• Demonstrates good, working knowledge of program
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of development characteristics across the lifespan.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of emotional and behavioral disorders of the chronically mentally ill.
• Demonstrates knowledge of policies related to suspected abuse/neglect proc edures including interviewing, reporting and documenting.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Completes tasks in a timely fashion
• Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks
• Adheres to all facility policies and procedures
• Maintains Class D Chauffeurs license
• Transports patients in professional, timely, and safe manner.
• Operates vehicle in a safe manner
• Maintains vehicle in clean fashion, reports any maintenance needs to supervisor, and assists in facilitation of maintenance records.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.