Behavioral Health Technician- ED Safety Attendants, Full Time Days

Cape Fear Valley Health

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Technician provides routine patient care in the Emergency Department Safety Attendants department at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Duties include observing patients, monitoring and recording changes in their condition, obtaining vital signs, helping with activities of daily living, providing emotional support and care under the direction of a nurse, and facilitating groups. The technician also assists with contraband searches and the inventory of patients’ personal belongings, uses crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques as needed, and helps maintain a safe, clean, therapeutic environment. The role serves as a resource for medical staff, nursing staff, security, and other Behavioral Health Technicians. The position promotes patient safety, rights, dignity, comfort, and a positive therapeutic environment. It supports admissions, transfers, and discharges; monitors and documents patient observations as directed by a nurse; participates in therapeutic activities, education, performance improvement, and cost containment; and performs other assigned duties. The position requires variable-shift availability and physical activity including bending, prolonged standing and walking, and turning and lifting patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
BLS certification from the American Heart Association required.
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training and certification required within 30 days of employment.
CNA certification from the NC Nursing Assistant Registry required.
Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Competency to work with children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness.
Basic knowledge of age-specific considerations for the population served.
Unrestricted NCI certification upon completion of training.
General computer competency.
Ability to work variable shifts.
Ability to bend, stand and walk for prolonged periods, and turn and lift patients.
Visual and auditory acuity for observation and manual dexterity for computer use and documentation.
May involve skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious material.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Social Work preferred.
Two years of psychiatric experience preferred.
Nursing Assistant certification accepted.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care that promotes safety, protects patient rights, preserves dignity, provides comfort, and supports a positive therapeutic environment.
Assist with admissions, including contraband searches, orienting patients to their room and environment, obtaining vital signs, and securing belongings.
Assist with transfers and discharges, including obtaining vital signs and gathering patient belongings.
Obtain and monitor vital signs, obtain patient weights, and report abnormalities to a nurse.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene and toileting when necessary.
Assist with therapeutic holds, restraints, and seclusion procedures after completing NCI training.
Assess patients through play and group activities and report abnormal findings to a nurse.
Assist with Q-15-minute rounding and video, visual constant, and touch constant observation, including monitoring and documentation as directed by a nurse.
Assist with intake and output documentation and graphing vital signs as directed.
Facilitate Therapeutic Community Meeting and Wrap-up as assigned.
Participate in educational and performance improvement initiatives.
Actively participate in cost containment.
Perform other duties as assigned.