PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time04/16/2024 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time04/29/2024 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$2,292.00 - $3,433.00Salary (Annually)$27,504.00 - $41,196.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationChattanooga, TNDepartmentMental Health and Substance Abuse Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MOCCASIN BEND MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, HAMILTON COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid motor vehicle operator license may be required; some positions may require a valid motor vehicle operator's license with a FOR HIRE (F) endorsement.

Examination Method: Non-competitive selection for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for psychiatric technical work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the working level class in the Psychiatric Technician sub-series. Positions may work in direct care on patient units in a psychiatric hospital with responsibilities including providing daily living care, individualized teaching, group teaching, and supervised medical assistance. In addition, some positions may work as unit coordinators or admissions clerks with responsibilities such as such as entering/editing patient information into a database; ordering medical and office supplies; explaining admission procedures, taking vital signs and collecting other information from patients at the time of admission; and other clerical or patient care work.?An employee in this class may be assigned to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays. This class differs from Lead Psychiatric Technician in that an incumbent of the latter trains and orients new Psychiatric Technicians and supervises Psychiatric Technicians on an assigned shift in a unit.

NOTE: Applicants must successfully complete an approved Psychiatric Technician training course with the State of Tennessee or pass an equivalent examination. Failure to do so may result in termination.

Responsibilities

Assisting and Caring for Others:

* Performs lifesaving emergency procedures (e.g., CPR, Heimlich maneuver).
* Rescues injured patients and/or escorts patients to appropriate areas during the event of an emergency.
* Provides basic and/or emergency/psychiatric medical assistance under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider.
* Searches for and retrieves patients who are unaccounted for or who have left facility without authorization.
* Bathes, clothes, feeds and provides direct daily living care for patients.
* Calls for assistance to provide prompt medical intervention.
* Teaches patients to function at the highest daily living level possible through demonstration, one-on-one instruction, videos, or booklets.
* Promotes social interaction by encouraging patient participation in group activities and/or discussions.
* Escorts patients on field trips and medical appointments.
* Adjusts protective devices (e.g., helmets, mittens, spit masks) to ensure patient and staff safety.
* Answers signals or call lights to determine the need of the patient.
* Introduces the patient to other patients and the facility's staff.

Performing General Physical Activities:

* Restrains patients to prevent injuries to themselves and others.
* Moves, lifts, and/or transfers patients using sliding boards, wheel chairs, or other required equipment.
* Cleans the work area, supplies, and equipment to ensure a sanitary living environment.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:

* Identifies problematic situations between staff and patients and takes appropriate corrective action (e.g., intervenes when a staff member is having difficulties interacting with a patient).
* Identifies patients at risk based on current assessment by medical professionals and follows established protocols for specific risks to ensure safety of patients and staff.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

* Inspects patients' belongings, rooms and other patient areas to check for contraband, safety and health issues, equipment functioning, or other problems or issues.
* Inspects food trays to ensure the delivered items are consistent with the diet list for each patient.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

* Maintains current information and adheres to the Health Information Portability and Privacy Act (HIPPA) and other regularity standards relevant to job duties.
* Attends annual and periodic in-service training to keep up-to-date on the latest methods and technologies relevant to job duties.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

* Explains HIPPA laws, patients' rights, and other information to patients, families, and/or conservators.
* Explains routine ancillary services during patient orientation.
* Explains admission, vital sign, and laboratory procedures to patients.
* Explains to patients the reason why they are leaving the institution grounds for off-campus trips or appointments.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

* Evaluates patients' functionality to determine the need for mobility assistance.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

* Communicates with family members, service providers, and the general public to exchange information in accordance with HIPPA laws.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

* Monitors patients during administration of medications and meals to assist in compliance with prescribed regimen.
* Monitors alarms and panic buttons to ensure safety of patients and staff.
* Monitors office and medical supplies to ensure that adequate quantities are on hand.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

* Meets with other staff daily to discuss patient behavior or any other hospital situations that have occurred.
* Reports to immediate supervisor observed progression or regression in patients that may indicate training/treatment need changes.
* Communicates to appropriate staff the patients' needs for interpreters or any other special services.
* Reports to immediate supervisor any safety or building maintenance problems to request repair of the problems.

Coaching and Developing Others:

* May mentor new staff by providing feedback and information on organizational culture, policies, and procedures, task prioritization, and other work-related information.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

* May ensure patients' secure transportation upon discharge.
* Contacts all appropriate personnel to notify them of any off-campus trips or appointments for patients.

Getting Information:

* Checks patients for the presence of injuries and/or contraband.
* Takes patients' vital signs upon admission.
* Observes patients for signs of distress (e.g., poor vital signs, level of consciousness, behavior outburst).
* Visually checks the physical condition of units for any possible safety hazards.
* Observes patients visually for changes in behavior or attitude indicating effective or ineffective training/treatment.
* Asks patients questions upon admission to identify food and/or medical allergies.
* Monitors the amount of clothing and personal items belonging to patients.

Documenting/Recording Information:

* Documents general changes in the patients' behavior (e.g., eating and sleeping patterns).
* Documents inspection of findings on body injury chart.
* Records key behaviors on flow sheet for patients in seclusion, restraints, and during unit checks.
* Fills out discharge paperwork by checking and initialing appropriate boxes/fields on the required forms.
* Labels and stores patients' personal belongings.
* Transcribes onto appropriate forms the hand-written orders from medical staff.
* Completes all required forms to gain approval to take patients from the facility for off-campus trips or appointments.
* Labels laboratory specimen transport containers to ensure proper handling of specimens.
* Records a personal item inventory for patients.
* Checks inventory sheets to ensure patients have their own belongings when being discharged.
* Records patient progress on institutional tracking forms.
* Assembles patient medical records appropriately by ensuring that all pieces of information are included and are in the correct order.
* Records procedures and/or tests performed on pre-printed logs.
* Fills out required forms to verify any money spent on patients' personal items.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

* May operate a wheel-chair accessible vehicle or other State motor vehicle to drive patients to off-campus trips or appointments or to pick up needed supplies.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public:

* Greets and interacts with visitors to determine the reason for their visit, document/authorize their visit, and/or direct to appropriate location.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

* Operates or assists in the operation of Hoyer lifts, scales, suction canisters, or other patient care equipment
* Operates copiers and scanners to create digital images of paper documents.

Interacting With Computers:

* Uses a computer (e.g., access the internet, use office productivity software, such as word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation programs) to process or obtain information, create documents, and communicate by email.

Processing Information:

* Enters and edits patient information in the health information database (e.g., Avatar system).
* Compares total patient count to bed availability to determine new admission availability.
* Orders medical and office supplies using an online ordering system.
* Disassembles discharged patients' charts and other medical information and submits to medical records staff.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information:

* Estimates the quantities of resource materials needed to conduct treatment mall classes based on number of groups and number of participants in each group.

Handling and Moving Objects:

* Moves and unloads boxes of office and medical supplies to their correct storage location.
* Removes personal items and bed linens from patients' room upon discharge.

Competencies

Competencies:

* Customer Focus
* Integrity and Trust
* Listening
* Technical Learning
* Action Oriented
* Compassion
* Composure
* Patience
* Functional/Technical Competencies
* Time Management
* Written Communications
* Ethics and Values

Knowledge:

* Basic knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment and meeting quality standards for services
* Basic knowledge of principles and methods for teaching and instruction for individuals and groups
* Basic knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology

Skills:

* Basic skill in managing one's own time
* Basic skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
* Basic skill in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
* Basic skill in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
* Basic skill in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
* Basic skill in talking to others to convey information effectively
* Basic skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
* Basic skill in selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things
* Basic skill in adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
* Basic skill in teaching others how to do something
* Basic skill in actively looking for ways to help people

Abilities:

* Be physically able to perform assigned patient care tasks
* Be physically able to utilize approved crisis management techniques
* Ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears
* Basic ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
* Basic ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
* Ability to speak clearly so others can understand
* Basic ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures
* Basic ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
* Basic ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
* Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person

Tools & Equipment

* Computer
* Electronic Devices
* General Office Equipment
* Various medical equipment and devices

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

* A valid driver's license
* For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.

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