Mental Health Technician IV - Crisis (Extended Observation)

About the role

This position is located at our Crisis Center located in Dothan, Alabama. Schedule: Week 1: Monday, Thursday, Friday (07:00 am-7:30pm) Week 2: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday (07:00 am-7:30 pm)

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and oversight to individuals served in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and any associated units.
• Monitor individual’s behaviors and interactions with others, activities of daily living, facilitating educational groups, teaching individual coping skills, encouraging adherence to treatment requirements, safety observations and other duties as assigned.
• Prepares snacks and/or meals for individuals as required by facility.
• Visually observe individuals admitted into the unit as required to ensure safety of those served as well as other staff in the unit; may be required to perform 1:1 individual observation.
• Perform unit rounds, as required, assessing the safety of the unit and individual in care.
• Note significant changes in individual’s behavior and verbalizations, watching for cues of increased anxiety or agitation and report to the clinical team.
• Aid other staff members with actively disturbed and/or violent individuals, requesting for back-up personnel when needed.
• Assist in the education of individuals regarding behavioral / emotional techniques and support.
• Assist in the transfer and discharge of individuals by assisting with the individual in dressing and collecting personal possessions, valuables and carrying out the established discharge and transfer procedures.
• Utilize behavioral and crisis intervention techniques to prevent injury to individuals and others and to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for individuals; respond to crisis situations appropriately, effectively, and calmly to ensure ongoing safety of individuals and others.
• Serve as a positive role model by establishing maintaining positive, therapeutic relationships and appropriate boundaries with individuals and/or their families.
• May provide educational group facilitation when appropriate.
• Plans, organizes, and leads skills-based groups related to social skills, coping skills, self-esteem, relaxation, etc.
• Document groups according to SpectraCare Personnel Policies and Procedures, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
• Orders, properly stores, and maintains appropriate quantity of food used for snack.
• Maintain pantry stock and discard food upon expiration.
• Maintains/ assists with the cleanliness of the unit as required.
• Adhere to health and sanitation standards set for personal cleanliness and cleanliness of all helpers.
• Absorb and maintain individual’s records in a professional manner and in accordance with all specified guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
• Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all individual records in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR and all other applicable state or federal laws.
• Ensure all written documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ensure that all records are staffed within standard time frames, with service plan revised as needed and in accordance with standards.
• Ensure that all progress notes are completed promptly, written in a professional manner and in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Ensure that goals are appropriate, specific, and the focus of treatment.
• Ensure that all individual information is kept up to date.
• Ability to safely operate system vehicles to include wheelchair/handicapped vehicles when transporting individuals.
• Assists individuals on and off the vehicle, to include individuals with limited mobility.
• Correctly load and unload wheelchair users on lift to ensure safety.
• Correctly secure wheelchair users on bus safely by ensuring wheelchair and individual is strapped in securely utilizing the correct belts to prevent injuries.
• Conduct system vehicle maintenance checklist as required by SpectraCare policy.
• Maintain cleanliness of vehicles.
• Transport individuals, as needed.
• Follow guidelines of Cell Phone policy while driving system vehicles.
• Responsible for helping individuals with basic living skills/functions and/or learning opportunities.
• Assist individuals with hygiene needs.
• Teach individuals about maintaining proper hygiene and grooming to increase level of functioning.
• Absorb and assist with cleaning individual if soiled and replacing soiled clothes/linens with clean ones.
• Treat individuals with respect and courtesy at all times.
• Receive and respond to inquiries promptly and courteously.
• Meet with supervisor as established.
• Follow guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
• Participate in trainings, workshops, in-services and/or administrative meetings as assigned.
• Ensure any necessary documentation is completed and up to date before annual leave or personal leave is taken.
• Provide all support staff duties for absent secretary where needed and requested by supervisor.
• Adhere to Dress Code as set forth in the SpectraCare policies and procedures.
• Performs duties independently and/or with minimal supervision.
• Works in a cooperative manner with other SpectraCare employees, individuals, and/or family members.
• Perform all duties with the highest standard of ethics.
• Functions within professional boundaries with individuals and others.
• Works well with other staff and individuals to ensure safety of program, individuals and other staff.
• Functions and performs well in stressful environments and manages work related stress to ensure individual safety.
• Applies seclusion, protective holds and/or restraint per SpectraCare policy and procedures.
• Documents crises, protective holds, seclusions and restraints.
• Participates in beginning/end of shift unit reporting.
• Demonstrates willingness to work on any unit / program at SpectraCare based on facility needs as directed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mental illness, substance use, development disabilities, autism spectrum disorder
• Knowledge and understanding of crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to have patience and emotional stability.
• Ability to respond professionally in a crisis situation.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of job tasks.
• Knowledge of business English, spelling and arithmetic.
• Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
• Ability to operate office machines such as computer, fax machine, and copy machine.
• Ability to read instruction manuals printed in English.
• Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of job tasks, in a safe manner without endangering any employee, individual, or asset.
• Ability to follow through with detailed assignments with minimal supervision.
• Ability to follow orders and directives and work with supervisor and other staff.
• Ability to adhere to SpectraCare policy, HIPAA laws, and 42 CFR regarding confidentiality.
• Ability to adhere to health and safety standards.
• Ability to stay awake during working shift.
• Basic knowledge of individual’s rights.
• Ability to communicate effectively with seriously mental ill / substance use individuals and staff, both written and oral.
• Ability to adapt to conditions which may vary considerably.
• Ability to relay coping skills, positive attitude skills and self-esteem.
• Ability to facilitate educational groups to individuals in the unit.
• Ability to function and perform well in stressful environments and manage work related stress to ensure safety of those in the unit.
• Ability to travel as necessary.
• Ability to function within professional boundaries with patients and others.
• Ability to assist in establishing support systems and interface with agencies, organizations, and groups.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with other staff, Program Director and all levels of organizational staff.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative.