Psychiatric Technician (NOC Shift)

Title of Position: Psychiatric Technician
Location: Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center, Patient Care Services
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt
Union/ Non-Union: Union
Supervisor: Director of Nursing


Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center, located in Los Angeles, is a non-profit organization that provides an array of comprehensive mental health services for Children, Adolescents, Transitional Aged Youth, and Adults suffering from mental illness in the Greater Los Angeles area. The organization consists of a standalone fifty-five (55) )-bed hospital and six outlying outpatient facilities that have anywhere from fourteen (14) beds to one hundred and thirty-four (134) beds. The organization has approximately four hundred (400) employees.

SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Psychiatric Technician performs direct and indirect psychiatric care to promote the comfort, safety and well-being of assigned patients as authorized by established hospital policy and procedure.

ESSENTIALS DUTIES

• Perform direct basic nursing care to promote comfort and safety of patient per hospital policies.
• Demonstrate ability to perform CPR, seclusion and restraint per hospital polices.
• Accurately measure and record height, weight, temp, pulse, blood pressure, intake and output per doctor's order.
• Promptly report important unusual patient observations to charge nurse.
• Maintain accurate, legible documentation in dietary sheets, 15-min check sheets, point sheets and contraband sheet.
• Assist in providing clean, comfortable and therapeutic environment- to include cleaning and laundry.
• Implement time out, 1:1 observation per hospital orders
• Transport and accompany patients on required hospital appointments.
• Assists in the orientation of new psychiatric technicians
• Works with the treatment team in patient education and achieves treatment goals.
• Encourages and teaches the patient personal hygiene and dietary habits- monitors ADLs.
• Acts as a co-leader in patient groups as assigned.
• Carries out patient teaching projects with the supervision of the Charge Nurse/Supervisor.
• Implements patient group activities with direction and support of the Charge Nurse/Supervisor.
• Assists in the Management of disturbed and potentially assaultive patients; responds to calls for assistance in emergencies, may require hands-on.
• Responds to hospital emergency codes: Code Red, Code Blue, Code Gray, Code Triage, Code Silver and Dr. Emergy Code.
• Completes all tasks in a prompt, accurate manner.
• Willing and able to work independently.
• Exercises good judgment, objective and able to arrive at sound conclusions.
• Participate in unit patient care conferences and staff development program to improve patient care, skills and knowledge.
• Conducts in -service classes with the guidance of the Charge Nurse/Supervisor.
• Represents the unit at interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Attends in-service and continuing education classes, on a regular basis to maintain and increased skills.
• Seeks learning opportunities to gain new knowledge/skills which result in continuing quality improvement.
• Seeks appropriate guidance from immediate supervisor to achieve expected outcome.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATES

• Psychiatric Technician Certification- obtained through the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians within 90 days of hire

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Six months experience in an adult and/or adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit; May include up to six (6) months experience on an inpatient chemical dependency unit
• Experience with involuntary patients.
• Experience with the Management Of Aggressive Behavior and seclusion and restraints.

REQUIREMENTS

• Valid California Driver's license.
• Driving record acceptable for coverage by Gateways insurance carrier.
• Note: If indicated certifications/licenses are lacking, they must be obtained within 180 days of hire.
• **Training needs to be completed within 30 days from the date of hire on a designated date provided by onboarding. Staff need to be certified at a commensurate level for their role to perform their job duties (staff will be taken off the schedule if certification is not achieved).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• To perform this job you must be able to carry out all essential functions successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the job.
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move unassisted up to 25 pounds.

Gateways believes that our people are our greatest asset and is proud to offer competitive benefits that support their health, happiness and career development.

• Cover 100% Medical/Dental/Vision Premiums for all Full-Time Employees and 1 Dependent
• 8 Paid Holidays + 4 Personal Holidays in Calendar Year
• 2 Weeks of Vacation
• 403b Retirement Plan Company Match 8%
• Annual Company Events