MENTAL HEALTH TECH (FT NIGHTS, 7 PM - 7:30 AM)

A Mental Health Technician (MHT) performs selected patient care activities under the supervision of the Program Director and/or Nurse Manager. Primary duties include observing and recording patient information pertinent to the treatment plan and reporting this information to the Staff Registered Nurse. This position is also responsible for escorting and monitoring patient activities and attending to their personal needs. The MHT must be capable of physically assisting patients, dealing with patient emergencies and working as a member of the clinical team.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None required for this position

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Hours of work and days are subject to the needs of the Program which operates on a 24 hour; seven days a week basis. Please refer to Program or Hospital attendance policy for additional direction on shifts, holidays and attendance.

Work Environment:

• MHTs work in close contact with patients who have moderate to severe psychiatric concerns and/or behavioral issues. There is the possibility MHTs could be exposed to violent behavior from patients and/or infectious diseases as part of their daily duties. 
• This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential core function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, experience, and ability necessary to perform this job.  

Essential Core Functions:

• Restore and promote patients health by assisting in their individual therapeutic treatment plan
• Conducts activities in accordance with patient diagnosis and needs
• Attend to patient personal needs (oral hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.) as required.
• Escort and monitor patients; and provide line-of-sight or one-to-one support to patients as ordered by the physician
• Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission; maintain patient property list
• Regularly observe and document patients behaviors, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and weight
• Monitor and document patients food and fluid intake; feeding patients as required
• Complete and document 15 minute (or less) visual checks on patients per unit/hospital policy 
• Insure patient dignity and respect patient values
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families and staff
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality; and protects operations by keeping patient and program information confidential
• Operate within ethical standards
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary team members
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and regulatory standards
• Coordinate and supervise therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans
• Help maintain unit cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort
• Assist in orientation for patients and families
• Per RN direction, and using approved methods, assist in safely placing patients in seclusion or restraints; observe suicide/seclusion precautions
• Monitor visitors and supervise visitation
• Intervene with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules. Report any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, and danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit/facility safety rules.
• Assist in emergency care if necessary
• Maintain continuity among peers by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to safety standards; infection-control policies and protocols; storage procedures; and controlled substance regulations
• Use hygienic practices and teach patient hygienic practices
• Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings and activities
• Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs
• Completes all required educational sessions, including staff meetings and competencies per unit/hospital policy
• Insure operations of equipment by calling for repairs; and evaluating new equipment and techniques
• Assist with tele psych equipment as required
• Provide feedback to supervisor on ongoing basis in regards to concerns, improvements, changes, etc.
• Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift and as needed and documents appropriately.
• Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Non-essential Duties:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Staff may be required to serve as a patient sitter and may be floated to other units based on operational need.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more so your journey at and away from work is remarkable. Our Total Rewards package includes: 

Compensation:

• Base compensation within the positions pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or trainin
• Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits - .5 to 1.0 FTE:

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Benefits - .001 to .49 FTE:

• Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

Required Education/Licensure:

• High School diploma or GED 
• Crisis prevention certification as required prior to working on the unit
• CPR certification required  

Preferred Education/Licensure:

• Preferred one-year experience with appropriate education. 
• Preferred college level courses inn Psychology or related field.
• Preferred experience in medical or psychiatric setting.

Required Experience:

• Ability to manage anger, fear, hostility, and violence of others appropriately
• Ability to make decisions under pressure
• Ability to manage stress appropriately
• Proficient in applicable software applications
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines
• Comfortable working in confined or crowded areas
• Comfortable working alone or in a team environment

Language Skills:

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions and correspondence moderate in complexity
• Ability to communicate the needs of the patients

Employee Health Requirements:

Exposure/Sensory Requirements: 

Exposure to: Chemicals: Refer to MSDS Sheets Video Display Terminals: Average Blood and Body Fluids: Obtaining and transporting patients' body fluids. Cleaning patients who are incontinent of urine and/or stool. Controlling the agitated student such as scratches, bites,etc. This potential exposure reduced through non-violent crisis intervention education and the use of universal precautions. TB or Airborne Pathogens: Minimal - Exposure potential reduced through the use of universal precautions. 

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): 

Speech: Needed for communication with patients and other staff. Vision: Needed to read materials such as medical records. Smell: Needed to detect the odor of ETOH on patients, smoke in patients' rooms or electrical hazards. Hearing: Required for patient safety, telephone use, intercom announcements, listening to employees, patients, and staff, and taking vital signs. Touch: Contact with patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must be able to physically perform the requirements of the crisis prevention model utilized in order to provide safe physical holding of patients and transport techniques. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Physical & Mental:

Activity/Lifting Requirements: 

Shift: Variable for 24-hour coverage 

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to: 

Sit: 20% Twist: 5% Stand: 20% Crawl: 3% Walk: 25% Kneel: 3% Lift: 5% Drive: 0% Squat: 5% Climb: 5% Bend: 5% Reach above shoulders: 5% 

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

l Up to 10 lbs: Frequently Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally Up to 75 lbs: Occasionally Up to 100 lbs: Not Required Over 100 lbs: Not Required 

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): 

MHU staff is required to assist with the control and transport of patients. Patients may weigh as much as 300# and be carried waist high up to 100'. Assists with lifting patients from wheelchairs to beds. Carries linens for bed making and supplies weighing up to 10# up to 100'. 

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity: 

Sit: 60 Twist: 3 Stand:15 Crawl: 1 Walk: 60 Kneel: 3 Lift: 3 Drive:0 Squat: 3 Climb: 2 Bend: 3 Reach above shoulders: 1 

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

Simple grasp -15 lbs: Frequently Pushing & pulling- 50-200 lbs: Occasionally Fine Manipulation: Writing, taking vital signs. Opening juice and milk containers. Opening silverware, soap packages. Handling CS tags. Using writing instruments. 

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: 

Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally-utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards: 

Environmental Factors (Time Spent): 

Inside hours: 7 Outside hours: 1 Temperature: Normal Range Lighting: Average Noise levels: Average Humidity: Dry Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards: 

Other - potentially aggressive/violent patients. 

Protective Clothing Required: Gloves to maintain MHU universal precautions.