Lead Psychiatric Technician

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time04/30/2024 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time05/06/2024 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$2,517.00 - $3,775.00Salary (Annually)$30,204.00 - $45,300.00Job 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 and experience equivalent to two years of providing daily living care, one to one or group training/teaching, or medical assistance to individuals.

Substitution of Education for Experience: 12 semester, hours or 400 vocational training hours in nursing or nursing assistance or a nursing assistance certificate from an accredited college, university, or vocational technical school may substitute for one of the required years of experience.

12 semester hours is equivalent to 18 quarter hours of college course work.

Necessary Special Qualifications: A valid motor vehicle operator license may be required.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under the supervision of licensed health care providers, is responsible for lead psychiatric technical work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the lead level in the Psychiatric Technician sub-series. Employees in this job class are responsible for the training and orientation of new Psychiatric Technicians and may supervise technician staff on one shift in a patient care unit or admissions office of a psychiatric hospital. An employee in this class may be assigned to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays. This class differs from Psychiatric Technician in that an incumbent of the latter does not train new employees or supervise.

NOTE: Applicants who have not been Psychiatric Technicians with the State of Tennessee in the last calendar year must 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.
* Adjusts protective devices (e.g., helmets, mittens, spit masks) to ensure patient and staff safety.
* Conduct group therapy sessions (e.g., exercise, music, relaxation therapy) with patients in the treatment mall.
* Answers signals or call lights to determine the need of the patient.
* Escorts patients on field trips and medical appointments.
* Collects specimens (e.g., urine samples) from patients to send to laboratory.
* Introduces the patient to other patients and the facility's staff.

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.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

* Establishes unit goals and priorities based on divisional policy, production, and resources to ensure adequate coverage on units.

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.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

* Reviews staffing information for a unit to determine if there is adequate staffing for effective operation of the unit.
* Evaluates patients' functionality to determine the need for mobility assistance.

Thinking Creatively:

* May assist in the development or revision of reports for documenting patient information.

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.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

* May ensure patients' secure transportation upon discharge.
* Schedules a minimum number of staff to work a given shift to ensure all patient and building needs are met.
* Schedules in-service training and orientation for the unit.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

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

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

* Provides recommendations regarding Psychiatric Technicians' performance evaluations based on identified progress in work environment.

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.

Processing Information:

* Ensures all required forms have been completed as necessary to gain approval prior to taking patients from the facility for off-campus trips or appointments.
* Compiles attendance information daily for treatment mall groups to prepare a report for use in assessing participation.
* Checks inventory sheets to ensure patients have their own belongings when being discharged.

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 changes in policies or procedures to staff to help them understand how their daily work is impacted.
* 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.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others:

* Coordinates workload of Psychiatric Technician staff on a unit to ensure adequate patient care.

Training and Teaching Others:

* May conduct agency-specific and specialized training to improve staff performance and/or comply with departmental, state, and federal regulations/standards.

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.

Coaching and Developing Others:

* Talks with personnel who have a problem to identify options that will solve the problem.
* Trains and mentors new staff by providing feedback and information on organizational culture, policies, and procedures, task prioritization, and other work-related information.
* Notifies staff of inappropriate conduct and the disciplinary action that will be taken if the behavior continues.
* Provides assistance to Psychiatric Technicians when needed.
* Notifies staff of inappropriate conduct and the disciplinary action that will be taken if the behavior continues.

Getting Information:

* Checks patients for the presence of injuries and/or contraband.
* Takes patients' vital signs upon admission and per doctor's orders.
* Observes patients visually for changes in behavior or attitude indicating effective or ineffective training/treatment.
* Observes employees as they perform tasks to ensure accuracy and efficiency in work activities.
* Visually checks the physical condition of units for any possible safety hazards.
* Visually observes patients' behavior.
* Observes patients to detect distress (e.g., poor vital signs, level of consciousness, behavior outburst).
* Asks patients questions upon admission to identify food and/or medical allergies.
* Monitors the amount of clothing and personal items belonging to patients.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

* Discusses therapeutic solutions with patients to de-escalate conflicts or other tense situations.
* Talks with other Psychiatric Technician staff to facilitate resolution of conflicts or disagreements.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

* Meets with other staff daily to discuss patient behavior or any other hospital situations that have occurred.
* Contacts all appropriate personnel to notify them of any off-campus trips or appointments for patients.
* 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 any safety or building maintenance problems to appropriate staff to request repairs or correction of problem.

Documenting/Recording Information:

* Documents general changes in the patients' behavior (e.g., eating and sleeping patterns).
* Documents inspection of findings on body injury chart.
* Labels laboratory specimen transport containers to ensure proper handling of specimens.
* Records key behavior on flow sheet for patients in seclusion, restraints, and during unit checks.
* Records patient progress on institutional tracking forms.
* Records procedures and/or tests performed on pre-printed logs.
* Records a personal item inventory for patients.

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.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

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

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.

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:

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

Competencies

Competencies:

* Integrity and Trust
* Drive for Results
* Customer Focus
* Patience
* Listening
* Directing Others
* Compassion
* Managerial Courage
* Approachability
* Problem Solving
* Time Management
* Understanding Others

Knowledge:

* Intermediate knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment and meeting quality standards for services
* Intermediate knowledge of principles and methods for teaching and instruction for individuals and groups
* Intermediate knowledge of business and management principles involved in leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources
* Intermediate knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology

Skills:

* Intermediate 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
* Intermediate skill in selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things
* Intermediate skill in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
* Basic skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
* Basic skill in managing one's own time and the time of others
* Basic skill in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
* Intermediate skill in being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do
* Intermediate skill in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
* Basic skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
* Intermediate skill in talking to others to convey information effectively
* Basic skill in persuading others to change their minds or behavior
* Basic skill in motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job
* Intermediate skill in actively looking for ways to help people
* Intermediate skill in monitoring/assessing performance of other individuals or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action
* Intermediate skill in adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
* Intermediate skill in teaching others how to do something
* Basic skill in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one

Abilities:

* Be physically able to utilize approved crisis management techniques
* Ability to speak clearly so others can understand
* Ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears
* Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person
* Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
* Intermediate ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources)
* Ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds
* Intermediate ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
* Basic ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures
* Intermediate ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
* Basic ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
* Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
* Intermediate ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted

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.