Mental Health Technician

About the role

The Mental Health Technician acts as a paraprofessional member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, assisting in the care and treatment of psychiatric and/or chemically dependent patients. Under supervision of the nurse or counselor, provides supportive and behavioral direction as dictated by patient needs and treatment plan.

Responsibilities

• Observes and monitors patient behavior; communicates patient behavior patterns with other members of the treatment team.
• Assists with the coordination of patient activities and interacts with patients in order to maintain a therapeutic milieu; adapts approach to patients as needed and appropriate for age of patients served including children, adolescents, and adults.
• Escorts and transports patients to designated areas for daily activities; transports patients to off-campus therapeutic activities using hospital vehicle as assigned.
• Communicates pertinent patient information to the interdisciplinary treatment team, through written and verbal reports, in order to enhance treatment planning and describe progress.
• Utilizes Trauma Informed Care principles.
• Provides emotional support to patients by listening and conveying appropriate information; answers patient and family questions; refers therapy or medical questions to counselor or RN; supports and provides patient direction in conjunction with the patient's treatment plan.
• Serves as a role model for patient social interactions, grooming, and appropriate behavior; models use of healthy coping skills.
• Facilitates or co-facilitates patient groups under direction of RN, social worker, or counselor.
• Responds to unit emergencies; assists with management of patients using therapeutic interventions; uses Directed Intervention principles in responding to disruptive patient.
• Assists staff nurse in performing patient care as directed including obtaining and recording height and weight and blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations.
• Distributing meals and assisting patients with meals; bathing and other ADL's; assists with ambulation, lifting, and positioning patients according to policy and procedure; assists with elimination needs including empties bedpans and urinals and takes appropriate measurements for intake and output.
• Provides close observation or one-to-one care, as directed by the RN, to prevent patients from wandering or potential injury.
• Performs clerical duties including scheduling appointments, receiving incoming phone calls and visitors, directing calls as appropriate, copying and faxing information as directed, and maintaining adequate supplies to meet unit needs.
• Performs tasks related to patient admission, dismissal and transfer, including belongings search and labeling of patient belongings; collection of specimens and transportation.
• Performs special observations (patients at risk for suicide, falls, elopement, and aggression toward self and others) as assigned.
• Applies and monitors the use of patient restraints according to facility policy.
• Maintains appropriate therapeutic relationships with patients; maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Documents, under the direction of the RN, in the patient medical record attendance at all treatment activities and participation in daily unit routines; descriptions of patient behavior; communications related to patient care received from referral sources, family members, and others; vital signs, I&O; entries as appropriate on the interdisciplinary treatment plan and treatment plan review sheets.
• Picks up from the Pharmacy and transports medications to the unit, when requested; delivers medication (drugs or biologicals) received on the unit, to the appropriate patient specific medication drawer or medication room.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must have appropriate training for basic interaction care such as supervision, daily living care, and mentoring of patients/residents in the unit/facility.
• Must be at least twenty (20) years old and at least two (2) years older than the oldest juvenile patient.
• Must complete and pass annual criminal background check and central registry check through child and adult protective services.

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required.
• Valid State of Nebraska driver's license required.
• Verification and maintenance of responsible driving record per facility standards required.

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