Mental Health Technician

Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Mental Health Technician to join our team. As a Mental Health Technician, you will play a crucial role in providing support and care to individuals with mental health conditions. This is an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others and contribute to their overall well-being.

Corterra of Wichita is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Position Summary : A Mental Health Technician (MHT) performs selected patient care activities under the supervision of the Nursing Director. 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.

Qualifications:

Education, Certification/Licensure, and/or Experience

• High School diploma or GED
• Crisis prevention certification as required
• CPR certification
• Minimum one year experience preferred with appropriate education

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• 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

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Restores and promotes patient health by assisting in their individual therapeutic treatment plan
• Conducts activities in accordance with patient diagnosis and needs
• Attends to patient personal needs (oral hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.) as required
• Escorts and monitors patients during admissions, transfers, and discharges; and provides line-of-sight or one-to-one support to patients as ordered by the physician
• Checks and documents luggage and personal belongings upon admission; maintains patient property list
• Regularly observes and records patients’ behaviors, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and weight
• Monitors and documents patient food and fluid intake; feeding patients as required
• Completes and documents 15-minute (or less) visual checks on patients per hospital policy
• Ensures patient dignity and respects patient values
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families, and friends
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality; and protects operations by keeping patient and hospital information confidential
• Operates within ethical standards
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and multidisciplinary team members
• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and regulatory standards
• Coordinates and supervises therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans
• Helps maintain hospital cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort
• Assists in orientation for patients and families
• Per RN direction, and using approved methods, assists in safely placing patients in seclusion or restraints; observes suicide/seclusion precautions
• Monitors visitors and supervises visitation
• Intervenes with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore safety rules. Reports any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other facility safety rules
• Assists in emergency care if necessary
• Maintains continuity among peers by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to safety standards, infection-control policies and protocols, storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations
• Uses hygienic practices and teaches patient hygienic practices
• Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings, and activities
• Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs
• Completes all required educational settings, including staff meetings and competencies per hospital policy
• Ensures operations of equipment by completing preventative maintenance requirements, calling for repairs, and evaluating new equipment and techniques
• Assists with tele-psych equipment as required
• Provides feedback to supervisor on an ongoing basis regarding concerns, improvements, changes, etc.