Mental Health Technician, PM

About the role

A Mental Health Technician is a professional who supports mental healthcare professionals within a crisis center facility. Their duties include observing and recording patient behavior, ensuring patient comfort and care, assisting with daily living activities, managing patient behavior through de-escalation techniques, maintaining cleanliness, conducting inventory, and reporting as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide care to patients ensuring their comfort and safety.
• Assist patients with daily living activities such as serving meals, escorting to restroom/showers, providing clothing, etc.
• Assist with patient behavioral problems using de-escalation techniques.
• Observe and identify agitated/distressed patients and engage with them to prevent crisis escalation.
• Observe and record patient activities and behaviors according to policies and procedures.
• Prepare and serve patient meals according to the established program schedule and guidelines.
• Conduct patient and bed/chair searches for contraband items per AltaPointe Policy and Procedure as needed or when required.
• Provide one-to-one coverage for patients on special status as assigned.
• Collaborate with the treatment team members to ensure efficient patient care.
• Collaborate with other team members in leading activities and group sessions with patients.
• Assist with crisis intervention when needed.
• Assist in the application and/or use of seclusion and restraint per AltaPointe Policy and Procedure when required.
• Maintain cleanliness of patient beds, chairs, tables, and other furniture items within the observation facility.
• Maintain cleanliness of food preparation area and food storage units (freezers, refrigerators, and pantry closets/shelving).
• Maintain order of the linen and clothing unit as needed.
• Conduct and report inventory of food, linen, and other items used to serve and care for the patients.
• Conduct and report inventory of forms needed to document and record patient activity and behaviors.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient records.
• Maintain established policies and procedures to ensure environmental, quality assurance, safety, and infection control standards.
• Perform hand-off communication at shift change.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisor.

Supervision and Consultation

• Sets up for supervision and consultation as needed.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement.
• Actively works to enhance skills.
• Acts courteously and respectfully towards consumers, visitors, and co-workers.
• Treats consumers with care, dignity, and compassion.
• Manages physically aggressive consumers in a manner that protects individual dignity, respect, and self-esteem.
• Respects consumers' privacy and confidentiality.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed.
• Is sensitive to consumers' needs, expectations, and individual differences.
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families.

Administrative and Other Related Duties

• Participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Fulfills AltaPointe policies and procedures.
• Attends appropriate in-services training and other workshops.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and carry at least 25 pounds.
• Must be able to walk while carrying food trays or other items without losing balance.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, or squat without falling over.
• Must be able to reach forward or overhead without restriction.
• Must have fine dexterity and fine manipulation ability to ensure ability to utilize keys, grasp paperwork, pull/turn doorknobs, etc...
• Must have visual acuity in at least one eye and full range of head and neck motions.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 6 months experience in the healthcare field with experience relative to patient care.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Certification as a C.N.A. or N.A. preferred but not required.
• Ability to utilize a computer and basic Microsoft Word applications.
• At least 23 years of age.
• Valid driver's license.
• Dependable transportation.