Lead Mental Health Technician

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lead Mental Health Technician/Residential Advisor functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from preschool through geriatrics depending on which unit worked. This is a mentoring position for all newly hired Mental Health Techs, providing leadership, training, guidance, and monitoring; it is also the link between nursing administration, Charge RN and the Mental Health Technician.

Education / Licensure:

Candidate will possess an accredited high school diploma or have successfully passed the High School Equivalence Examination. Preference is given to those with a degree or considerable coursework in the behavioral sciences or closely related field, and/or professional work experience in a psychiatric hospital or residential treatment center. Some populations may require the additional endorsement of a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Note: In support of JHBH’s quality requirements, we require a post-offer drug screen, physical, criminal background review and conduct original source verification of degrees/certifications of all candidates.

Skills:

1) Generalize understanding of the more commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and possible side-effects i.e. detect and timely involve nursing personnel; 2) Ability to apply cultural sensitivity and age specific competencies; 3) Effectively applies program approved policies and procedures; 4) Prepares documentation to give the most complete description of the patient’s response and functioning; 5) Continuously alert to potential safety risks and unsafe conditions; and 6) Coordinate care within a multidisciplinary team framework.

Additional Requirements:

One year of related experience or BS in psychology, in lieu of experience, with working knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques with understanding of mental illnesses. One year experience as a Mental Health Technician at Peak View Behavioral Health. Timely renewal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for healthcare professionals certification, annual professional skills verification and “Handle with Care” (psychiatric crisis management) certification. May be required to work overtime and flexible hours.

AGES and POPULATIONS SERVED

Peak View Behavioral Health provides access and services to all persons meeting admission and continuing stay criteria without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, military status, veteran status, medical status, handicap or mental/physical disability. Our patient population reflects the fullest diversity of the community in which we serve. All staff are to conduct themselves with respect and consideration for others, and to appropriately intervene in situations below this standard.

Child (age 1 – 12 years): [ ] YES [ x ] NO Verified 00/00/00

Adolescent (age 13 – 17 years): [ ] YES [x ] NO Verified 00/00/00

Adult (age 18 – 64 years): [ x ] YES [ ] NO Verified 00/00/00

Geriatric (age 65 years +): [ ] YES [ x ] NO Verified 00/00/00

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service

1. In-person and telephone communication is consistently attentive, responsive and reflects “helpfulness”.

2. Professional awareness and boundaries are observed. Unnecessary self-disclosure is minimized.

3. Telephones are answered by the third ring whenever possible and a professional greeting. Dedicated extensions/mobile phones with voice mail have a personalized greeting, and messages retrieved/responded to in a timely manner.

4. Critical customer encounters are met with advanced customer service skills and resolved.

Nursing Services

1. Assist the Charge Nurse with assignments for Mental Health Techs (MHT’s), group coverage, charting, breaks, environmental and safety rounds and codes.

2. Ensure that the program schedule is being followed and reporting to DON variances to program schedule.

3. At the beginning of every shift, identify patients that present with potential of being high risk for elopement, suicide, seclusion and restraint, AMA, etc., ensuring appropriate notations on patient safety observation sheet.

4. Conduct visitation process with visitors including meeting with all visitors to discuss contraband items, patient confidentiality, patient safety and number of visitors allowed per patient, prior to escorting them back to the unit.

5. Make sure 15 minute checks are assigned and done on time.

6. Accounts for all patients before transitions.

7. Orients patients to unit, gives tour and goes over Patient Handbook.

8. Insure the integrity of our program i.e. monitor interactions between staff and patients, given consequences, focusing on the positive behaviors, make sure feedback sheets are completed after each activity, prompting (1-2-3).

9. Responsibility for noise level on the hall.

10. Must be aware of where staff is on assigned hall.

11. Demonstrate an understanding of the proper protocol to conflict resolution.

12. Know who is assigned to Code teams.

13. Facilitates the completion of safety round checklist by verifying that precaution checks are completed timely and accurately, MHT’s are in assigned zones, all patient’s doors are open when on the hall and closed an locked when they are not. Assignments are completed and patient’s information is not left on the hall.

14. Attend meetings and ensure the implementation of information and training be passed on to subordinate staff.

15. Identifies problems in the delivery of patient care, develop solutions and monitor.

16. Actively function as preceptor for MHT’s.

17. Receives report from previous shift Lead to utilize information in planning for shift; gives accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift Lead.

18. Demonstrates the ability to observe patient’s behavior and identify key patient’s behavioral cues and communicates these proactively to other team members.

19. Proactively communicates concerns and problems to superiors and seeks input, advice and support as needed to maintain an objective approach to team member communication.

20. Demonstrates the ability to respond to patients in crisis and acts according to developmental needs of the patients to ensue patient and unit safety.

21. Demonstrates knowledge and skills related to special treatment for precautions, seclusions, restraints, elopements, close observation and searches.

22. Observes patient affect and behaviors, informs nurse of changes and implements procedures as directed by nurses.

23. Demonstrates ability to recognize different types of abuse/neglect of patients and reporting mechanisms of such issues.

24. Maintain equipment in safe working order including reporting facility or equipment problems to supervisor and/or maintenance staff.

25. Responds to codes in accordance with hospital policy procedures.

26. Is aware of appropriate psychotropic medication and possible side effects.

27. Monitor that patients are not allowed to give or receive food from peers or staff.

28. Provide all other duties as assigned.

Milieu Management

1. Comply with the established policies and procedures requiring a safe, clean and therapeutic environment.

2. Practice universal precautions and environmental safety guidelines.

3. Recognize and respond to priorities in patient care responsibilities.

4. Supervise and assist patients in all patient areas.

5. Check patients for contraband and manage the patient’s valuables and belongings.

6. Make sure program terms and values are used in milieu.

7. Must maintain safe environment i.e. No aggressive behavior, insuring behavior management system is being implemented.

8. Report all concerns, problems and issues to Milieu Manager.

9. Must be able to develop therapeutic relationship with patients and provide assigned patient care within the general policies, philosophy and objectives of facility.

Leadership

1. Serves as a role model for team members through maintaining a professional approach and providing a positive work environment and team spirit.

2. Leads by example with initiative and creativity.

3. Actively seeks the input, feedback and opinions of all other team members.

4. Openly communicates with other team members in an honest direct manner that promotes a clear exchange of information within and between shifts.

5. Effectively utilizes strong team members to orient, train and encourage new or less experienced team members.

6. Performs problem solving and decision-making in a logical and deliberate manner, utilizing available resources, when appropriate.

7. Exhibits flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of the patients and/or co-workers.

8. Demonstrates the ability to utilize shift reports to organize and pre-plan problem areas.

Medical Records and Confidential Communication

1. Appropriately considers the sensitivity and confidentiality of medical/psychiatric information along with the need-to-know before sharing information with others.

2. Medical records entries are legible, errors minimized, timely completed and include signature with professional designation. Users of computer aided records should not share passwords and signoff to reduce unauthorized utilization.

3. Medical records of deficiencies are minimized, and when identified, corrected as soon as practical.

DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

Environment: Located in an indoor climate controlled environment with constant exposure to patients with a psychiatric diagnosis along with medical complications. Patient acuity will at times increase environmental stressors and sound volume.

Sight: Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Hearing: Must be able to hear and respond to others in person, by telephone, alarms and to medical equipment/devices.

OSHA Category 1: Task occasionally may involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissue and other potentially infectious materials. The use of universal precautions, personal protective equipment, regular hand washing, and following manufacturing guidelines can greatly reduce exposure risk.

Physical: This position requires regular sitting, stooping, standing, walking and lifting/reaching/carrying materials up to 35 lbs. Psychiatric emergencies require the use of safe physical techniques to lift and/or move patients in excess of 100lbs. Some patient care settings may have patients requiring assistance in repositioning and transferring from bed to chair.

Johnstown Heights Behavioral Health provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $35,360.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Medical Specialty:

• Psychiatry

Schedule:

• 12 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Night shift
• Weekends

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• MHT/BHT: 1 year (Required)

This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is:

• Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous
• Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
• High stress tolerance -- thrives in a high-pressure environment

Benefit Conditions:

• Waiting period may apply
• Only full-time employees eligible

Work Remotely:

• No

COVID-19 Precaution(s):

• Personal protective equipment provided or required
• Temperature screenings
• Social distancing guidelines in place
• Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place