Mental Health Tech

REPORTS TO: 

Nursing Leadership

SUMMARY STATEMENT & PURPOSE

The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients. Provides group “activities” and assists with milieu management.  MHTs work under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

All employees are expected to be pleasant, respectful, and courteous in all interactions with patients, families, staff, and visitors of the Hospital, as well as being a positive representative of INBH at all times.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or GED
• 2 years experience working in patient care
• Current BLS, First Aide, Handle with Care, and Verbal De-Escalation certifications, provided by INBH

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years of related patient care experience
• Knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illness
• Nursing Assistant Certification or higher

SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

All functions are essential functions unless otherwise noted. 

The job functions of this position are not limited to the duties listed below.

1. Accountable for patient safety; routinely check patients through observation rounds and compliance with suicide and/or elopement precautions.
2. Accompany patients to cafeteria and supervise meals.
3. Orient new patients to the unit and their room.
4. Teach and assist patients with personal hygiene and activities of daily living
5. Complete community safety searches as indicated.
6. Complete report sheets as directed.
7. Comply with standards for infection control, OSHA regulations and risk management. Report unsafe conditions.
8. Recognize and respond to priorities in patient care responsibilities.
9. Supervises and assists patients in all patient areas.
10. Check patients for contraband and manage patient’s valuables and belongings.
11. Report suspected change in condition and/or potential crisis situations to the nurse in charge.
12. Take responsibility to be kept informed and work to minimize delays in processes, procedures, and service delivery.
13. Assume responsibility for the completion of all patient care responsibilities and other assigned duties.

PHYSICAL & SENSORY REQUIREMENTS, WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS:

• Ability to stand, sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours.
• Ability to safely escort patients using stairs and elevators on a daily basis.
• Ability to move frequently is required in the delivery of patient care.
• Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
• Ability to work inside and outside in varying temperatures and conditions.
• Ability to occasionally push/pull wheeled carts from 200 lbs. (e.g. crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs).
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs., (e.g. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 100 lbs.
• Ability to frequently kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist, reach above, at or below shoulder height.
• Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping of small objects (e.g. telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands).
• Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors.
• Ability to occasionally handle hazardous/infectious waste.
• 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.
• Ability to work at a rapid pace and tolerate a variety of repetitive tasks.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in crisis situations.