Therapeutic Assistant - Mental Health - Adult Inpatient

Entity: Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA) – General Adult Program – Inpatient (IOP)

About the Role

The Therapeutic Assistant reports to the Nurse Manager. Under the direction of a registered nurse, the Therapeutic Assistant provides patient care as directed by the multi-disciplinary treatment plan and daily assignment sheet. Responsibilities include assisting with patient admission and discharge processes, monitoring and promoting the safety of the therapeutic environment, ensuring patients' activities of daily living are maintained, and supporting the therapeutic program.

Schedule

• 36 scheduled weekly hours
• Three 12-hour night shifts per week, including weekends and holidays
• Rotating shifts (frequent)
• Overtime as required (frequent)

Requirements

Education

• Therapeutic Assistant I: High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Therapeutic Assistant II: Bachelor's degree in Human Services or closely related field, or high school diploma and 1 year of experience in behavioral health or related healthcare.

Certifications

• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) required within 2 weeks of hire. Must maintain current BLS (either AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider).
• Certification in TACT and First Aid within the first 6 months of employment, renewed annually for TACT and biannually for BLS and First Aid.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform job functions while standing, sitting, or walking (continuous).
• Ability to climb stairs (infrequent).
• Ability to work indoors (continuous) and outside in temperature extremes (infrequent).
• Ability to work from elevated areas (frequent) and in confined/cramped spaces (frequent).
• Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions (infrequent), bend at the waist (continuous), twist at the waist (frequent), and squat (frequent).
• Ability to perform "pinching" operations (frequent) and gross/fine motor activities with fingers and hands (continuous).
• Ability to reach overhead (frequent) and in all directions (continuous).
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders (continuous).
• Ability to fully use both legs (continuous) and use lower extremities for balance and coordination (frequent).
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted (infrequent).
• Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor to 36 inches unassisted (infrequent).
• Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (infrequent).
• Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force (frequent). Examples:
  • Transferring a 100 lb. patient unable to assist requires 50 lbs. of force (additional assistance required for every 100 lbs.).
  • 20 lbs. of force needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet.
  • 25 lbs. of force required to push a stretcher with a patient using one hand.
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one or both eyes (continuous).
• Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance, match/discriminate between colors, and determine depth perception (continuous).
• Good peripheral vision capabilities (continuous).
• Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction (continuous).
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements (continuous).
• Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations (continuous).
• Ability to work in a latex-safe environment (continuous).
• Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions (continuous).
• Selected positions: Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function (continuous).
• Selected positions: Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required (continuous).

Pay

• Hourly pay rate (Fair Labor Standards Act status: Hourly)
• Pay Grade: Health-20