Mental Health Technician

Mental Health Technician

UHS Binghamton General Hospital is seeking a Mental Health Technician to provide direct patient care in the Behavioral Health unit under the direction of a Registered Nurse. This role supports patient safety, daily living and self-care needs, therapeutic activities, and maintains a safe, supportive treatment environment.

Schedule: 32 hours weekly, evening shift

Primary Department: M5 Psychiatric, UHS Binghamton General Hospital

Compensation Range: $19.37 - $28.09 per hour, depending on experience

Responsibilities:

• Monitors the physical status of patients and performs tasks that ensure physical well-being working with and under the direction of a registered nurse (e.g. clinical measurements, personal care, nutrition and hydration, specimen collection, shift rounding and escorting patients off site when necessary).
• Ensures a comfortable and safe environment by encouraging patients to maintain tidiness and cleanliness of their personal space (assigned room) and the unit.
• Ensures the availability of equipment and materials and monitors unit equipment for safe operation and storage.
• Addresses self-care deficits in the personal hygiene and home-living skills of individual patients. Assists the patient in the development of these skills (i.e. role modeling/social skills/coping).
• Documents and reports patient information as per policy.
• Plans and initiates structured activities with patients in consultation with rehabilitation therapists.
• Leads and co-facilitates the group process in an assigned group setting, upon successful completion of the specified training program and utilizes theory-based leadership in group therapy sessions as evidenced by completion of specific training and mentorships with lead staff.
• Provides support and assistance to staff involved in ECT treatments (e.g. lifting/moving patients, set up of equipment, monitoring patient oral intake post procedure, and responding to hyperthermia crisis.)
• Dependent upon experience, job performance, and years of service, the MHT may be designated to the role of "Primary Tech" under the direction of the RN. In this position the Mental Health Tech will work closely with an assigned Primary Nurse.
• Under the direction of a Primary Nurse/Nurse Manager, may participate/hold liaison sessions with patients requiring continued psychiatric care while in the hospital.
• Performs duties such as errands, covering telephones, monitoring activities and other limited tasks on the units.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience:

• Minimum Required: Associate's Degree in Applied Science in Human Services or 4 years of experience in a Mental Health related field or inpatient hospital setting and completion of Abnormal Psych within 2 years of hire.
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree in area with Human Service Focus