Lead Mental Health Technician

Overview

Functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing direct and indirect patient care, under the supervision of the Registered Nurse. Provides for the personal care and comfort of patients. Provides a safe, clean environment. Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.

Responsibilities

Patient Care

* Recognizes and responds to priorities in patient care.

*Takes full accountability for patient safety while on duty.

*Is compliant with precautions such as suicide or elopement and checks patients meticulously for contraband.

*Conduct patient observation checks at Q15, or random intervals, as clinically directed.

*Performs daily vital sign evaluations, or as needed at clinical discretion, for patients.

*Facilitate patient groups, AM check-in group and PM wrap-up group.

*Engage in shift report to exchange vital behavior observation to registered nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists.

*Participate with registered nurse to assist with skin checks, issue unit clothing and hygiene supplies, and provide orientation to the unit for new patient admissions.

* Demonstrates ability to set limits for patients.

* Assists patients with all activities of daily living including personal hygiene needs. Teaches patient proper hygiene.

* Employs appropriate crisis intervention techniques as required, such as verbal de-escalation and physical hands-on approaches such as application of mechanical restraints.

* Acts as patient advocate ensuring patient rights are upheld. Maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment at all times.

* Performs searches of patients, their belongings, and the rooms on a routine basis for contraband.

* Facilitates a positive therapeutic environment. Ensures the integrity of the program by providing high quality groups and activities as scheduled. Maintains consistency of milieu structure and predictability.

* Demonstrates responsibility for observation and application of sound therapeutic practices for decision making.

* Contributes to treatment plan with feedback to nurse and program staff to achieve therapeutic interventions.

* Role models and teaches appropriate social skills to patients.

* Supports the treatment plan and provides feedback to nurse and program staff to achieve treatment goals.

* Maintains safety during meal times and during visitation and phone times.

* Establishes trusting, therapeutic, effective relationships with psychotic, demented, and other alternatively functioning patients to meet treatment goals.

Education

* Participates in creating and sustaining a learning environment supported by evidenced based practice and research.

* Focuses on personal development areas, engaging in professional/collegial interactions with peers and students.

* Work collaboratively with peers and other healthcare providers, and participate in ongoing in-services and educational seminars.

Documentation

*Maintains and completes all documentation for patient records in designated electronic health records system.

Compliance and Safety

* If required for position, ensures all certifications and/or licenses are up-to-date and valid prior to expiration dates.

* Completes all company mandatory modules and required job specific training in the specified time frame.

* Responsible for reporting any safety related incident in a timely fashion through the Midas/RDE tool; attends all safety related training programs; performs work in a safe manner; monitors work environment for possible safety issues and ensures others are also performing work in a safe manner.

* Maintains timely documentation of assessments, interventions, EMR entries, and patient responses.

* Adheres to regulatory and organizational standards affecting patient care and safety as well as all hospital and departmental policies and procedures.

* Stays current and complies with company policies that impact the employees area of responsibility.

* Practices in a safe and cost effective manner

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice or related health and human services degree - Required

Certification & Licensures

Current, unrestricted CNA license in the State of Arizona - Preferred
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) required within 3 months of hire date
BLS (American Heart Association) certification - Required within 30 days of hire
Fingerprint Clearance Card application number -Required upon hire
Fingerprint Clearance card- Required within 90 days of hire

Experience

Minimum (2) years of experience in Behavioral Health or related healthcare field - Required

Healthcare is a rapidly changing environment and technology is integrated into almost all aspects of patient care. Computers and other electronic devices are utilized across the organization and throughout each department. Colleagues must have an understanding of computers, and competence in using computers and basic software programs.

CALL REQUIRED:

Yes-within 30 minutes

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