Associate Behavioral Health Technician - ED Safety Attendant

Overview: Join a compassionate team dedicated to providing routine patient care in an emergency department setting. This role involves observing, monitoring, and documenting changes in patient conditions, assisting with daily living activities, and offering emotional support under nursing supervision. You will also facilitate group activities and help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide patient care that promotes safety, dignity, and comfort within a positive therapeutic atmosphere.
• Assist with new patient admissions, including contraband searches, orientation, vital signs collection, and securing belongings.
• Support patient transfers and discharges by obtaining vital signs and managing personal items.
• Monitor vital signs and patient weight, reporting any abnormalities promptly to nursing staff.
• Help patients with personal hygiene and toileting as needed.
• Participate in therapeutic holds, restraints, and seclusion procedures following required training.
• Engage patients through play and group activities, reporting unusual findings to nurses.
• Conduct regular rounding and constant observation as directed, documenting observations accurately.
• Assist with intake/output documentation and vital sign graphing.
• Facilitate therapeutic community meetings and wrap-ups when assigned.
• Contribute to educational and performance improvement initiatives and cost containment efforts.

Education and Training:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Social Work preferred.
• Nursing Assistant certification accepted.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association required.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) training and certification must be completed within 30 days of employment.

Experience:

• Two years of psychiatric experience preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Competency in working with children, adolescents, and adults with mental health conditions.
• Basic understanding of age-specific considerations for the served population.
• Unrestricted NCI certification upon training completion.
• General computer proficiency.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work variable shifts.
• Capability to bend, stand for prolonged periods, and walk.
• Ability to turn and lift patients as needed.
• Visual and auditory acuity for observation and manual dexterity for documentation.
• Potential exposure to blood or other infectious materials.

This position serves a diverse regional community in the Southeastern United States, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment focused on patient-centered care.