Mental Health Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

Upon completion of orientation and under direct supervision, provides therapeutic milieu to an assigned psychiatric patient population. The Mental Health Technician (MHT) serves as a highly visible role model and first responder who facilitates recovery by supporting treatment goals, communicating vital information to the care team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION and RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service:

• In-person and telephone communication are consistently attentive, responsive and reflect "helpfulness".
• Professional awareness and boundaries are observed. Unnecessary self-disclosure is minimized.
• Telephones are answered by the third ring whenever possible and with a professional greeting. Dedicated extensions/mobile phones with voice mail have a personalized greeting, and messages retrieved/responded to in a timely manner.
• Critical customer encounters are met with advanced customer service skills and resolved.

Nursing Services: 

• Perform delegated patient care tasks, including obtaining and documenting vital signs, weight, intake/output, and other clinical observations within?the scope?of training.
• Partners with nursing during medication administration to reduce potential for medication error.
• Observes and assists patients with personal hygiene and maintains personal living space.
• Accompany patients to outside medical appointments.

Therapeutic Milieu:

• Begins shift by receiving report, knowing scheduled activities, and reviewing assigned patient’s condition. 
• Provide continuous supervision of assigned patients and?monitor?patient whereabouts and activities.
• Upon admission, obtains initial information/data, searches patient/belonging to ensure no introduction of contraband, records belongings, orient and introduces the patient to their assigned unit.
• Proactively prepares self and assigned patients to transitions, group structure, and adheres to program schedule.
• Observes group member’s dynamics and takes initiative to reduce problematic behaviors.
• High visibility during increased acuity and takes an active role with indicated interventions.
• When conducting psycho-educational groups, comes prepared with materials and utilizes facilitation techniques in support of an effective group process.
• Records patient observations during indicated timeframe i.e., after-the-fact documentation is not an approved practice.
• Understands patient rights, feedback/complain procedures, and appropriate involvement of the “chain-of-command.”
• Ends shift with communication and reporting to on-coming team. Performs final review of incomplete tasks and the return of supplies.
• Complete other duties assigned by the CNO.

Medical Records and Confidential Communication:

• Appropriately considers the sensitivity and confidentiality of medical/psychiatric information along with the need-to-know before sharing information with others.
• Medical records entries are legible, errors minimized, timely completed and include signature with professional designation. Users of computer aided records should not share passwords and signoff to reduce unauthorized utilization.
• Medical records of deficiencies are minimized, and when identified, corrected as soon as practical.
• Ensures the confidentiality of patient records and disclosures.

Requirements:

Skills:

• Generalized understanding of the more commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and possible side-effects i.e. detect and timely involve nursing personnel Knowledge of all code procedures.
• Ability to apply cultural sensitivity and age specific competencies.
• Effectively applies program approved policies and procedures.
• Prepare documentation to give the most complete description of the patient’s response and functioning.
• Coordinate care within a multidisciplinary framework.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to?identify?and mitigate environmental and patient safety risks.

Education / Licensure:

• Candidate will possess an accredited high school diploma or successfully pass the High School Equivalence Examination OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preference is given to those with a degree or considerable coursework in the behavioral sciences or closely related field, and/or professional work experience in a psychiatric hospital or residential treatment center. 

Additional Requirements:

• Timely renewal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification
• Annual professional skills verification.
• Handle with Care (HWC) (psychiatric crisis management) certification.