Tech - Mental Health/Security

Responsibilities

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River, this brand new, 128-bed facility, will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

We are currently seeking a forward thinking and compassionate MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN to be part of our Nursing Team. The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from adolescent through geriatrics. Mental Health Technicians work under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED required.

Experience: Two (2) years of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illness preferred.

Licensure: Certified Nursing Assistant preferred.

Additional Requirements: Incumbent must maintain a current, valid certificate in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Successful completion of CPI training (provided in-house) including de-escalation and appropriate use of seclusion and restraint, within the first 30 days of employment and required prior to assisting in the procedures. Incumbent may be required to work overtime and flexible hours. Must score at least a C on ACE assessment.

Essential Job Functions

Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs.

• Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals.
• Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager.
• Provide continuous patient care and maintain safety of all assigned patients demonstrated by verifying patient safety every 15 minutes on appropriate forms.

Interventions

• Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning.
• Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria.
• Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required.
• Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care.

Performance Accountability

• Participate in performance improvement activities as assigned (i.e. in-services, auditing).
• Attend program meetings and maintain related records.
• Demonstrate good judgment when making decisions.
• Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner.
• Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld.
• Demonstrate understanding of and compliance with reporting and supervisory hierarchy.
• Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities.

8 Adhere to facility, department and Corporate Personnel Policies and Procedures.

• Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Consistently follow established procedures.
• Mental health technicians escort patients to meals and activities, and may escort patients to other healthcare facilities.
• Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled.
• Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information.
• Conducts safety rounds to ensure no contraband is allowed on units.

Treatment Planning

Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to didactic group offerings, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES WHAT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS POSITION SHOULD CURRENTLY POSSESS. THIS LIST MAY NOT BE COMPLETE FOR ALL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of all code procedures.
• Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures.
• Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
• Knowledge of admitting procedures.
• Ability to participate in all aspects of patient care.
• Knowledge of P.I.E. (problem, intervention, evaluation) charting.
• Knowledge of personal hygiene training techniques.
• Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to operate a stethoscope competently.
• Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.
• Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPECIAL DEMANDS

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES HOW AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS POSITION CURRENTLY PERFORMS THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS POSITION. MODIFICATIONS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS JOB MAY BE PERFORMED WILL BE REVIEWED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

• Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors.
• Ability to spend 20% of the work day outdoors in temperatures varying form 30-110F and 80% of the work day indoors in temperatures varying from 60-85F.
• Ability to occasionally handle hazardous/infectious waste.
• Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping, twisting and fingering of small objects (telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands).
• Ability to occasionally push or pull wheeled carts from 200 lbs. (i.e., crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs).
• Ability to stand, sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours.
• Ability to frequently reach above, at or below shoulder height (to obtain supplies, reach in cabinets, use refrigerator), kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist.
• Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and steam are frequently generated in housekeeping tasks.
• Ability to move frequently as necessary in the delivery of patient care.
• The ability to competently and fully perform Handle with Care techniques is an essential position function.
• Must be able to hear sufficiently, with or without correction, to competently perform all essential job functions.
• Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs. (i.e. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 25 lbs. with assistance.
• Must work every other weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, as required.

Additional Requirements

A strong knowledge of The Joint Commission, HCFA, OSHA regulations, and patient rights standards and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.

One of the nation’s largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. UHS is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America’s Top 500 Public Companies.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.

Notice

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skillset and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. We take pride in creating a highly efficient and best in class candidate experience. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. The recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you are suspicious of a job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, let us know by contacting us at: https://uhs.alertline.com or 1-800-852-3449.