LEAD TECH - MH/BH (NO DEGREE)

UHS•MADERA, CA

About The Position

The Lead Tech plans and implements activity services for an assigned program, helps define and implement treatment goals as a member of the treatment team, and provides continuous patient care, observation, interaction, and role modeling under the direction of the CNO. The role also contributes to training and developing mental health technicians. Duties include supporting assessment, treatment planning, patient interventions, milieu safety and management, patient teaching, and completion of assigned care responsibilities. The Lead Tech may work with child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, and chemically dependent patients, following the standards and protocols applicable to each population.

Requirements

High school degree or equivalent.
At least one year of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient-care techniques and understanding of mental illness preferred.
At least one year of experience training and developing other staff members in psychiatric patient-care techniques, or at least one year of experience performing similar duties.
CPR certification.
Successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training; CPI training may be obtained during new-hire orientation.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant certification preferred.
Knowledge of psychiatric patient-care techniques and understanding of mental illness preferred.

Responsibilities

Take and record vital signs; observe, assess, and document changes in patients’ appearance, behavior, condition, and progress toward treatment goals; communicate changes to the charge nurse.
Follow each patient’s treatment plan, understand individualized goals and interventions, provide information to the charge nurse for treatment-plan development and revision, and document interventions and patient responses.
Provide care according to the patient’s plan of care; use approved crisis-prevention and behavioral-management techniques as needed; assist with discharge, personal hygiene, and activities of daily living.
Maintain a safe, clean, therapeutic milieu; follow universal precautions and environmental safety guidelines; supervise and assist patients in all patient areas; check for contraband and manage patient belongings; identify and report potential crises; and provide continuous supervision for patient safety.
Establish and maintain professional therapeutic relationships and uphold patients’ rights as their advocate.
Teach and reinforce hygiene, social skills, and treatment-plan activities under RN supervision; reinforce medication compliance and monitor compliance; orient patients to their unit and program and provide ongoing guidance.
Complete patient-care duties and other assigned responsibilities; follow infection-control, OSHA, risk-management, ethics, facility, and personnel requirements; participate in continuous performance-improvement activities; attend nursing shift report and weekly treatment-team/staffing meetings.
Mentor mental health technicians and help them perform duties in accordance with policy, procedure, regulation, and approved training.
For child patients ages 5–11, follow program rules and developmental guidance; recognize developmental or abuse-related concerns, set age-appropriate limits, adapt expectations for learning disabilities, use age-appropriate interactions, apply seclusion and restraint procedures with appropriate modifications, and serve as a staff resource.
For adolescent patients ages 12–18, follow program rules; recognize developmental and behavioral concerns, set age-appropriate limits, adapt expectations for learning disabilities, use age-appropriate interactions, apply seclusion and restraint procedures with appropriate modifications, and serve as a staff resource.
For adult patients ages 19–64, gather information from patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team; use knowledge of adult behavior in care planning and interventions; set appropriate limits; follow applicable seclusion and restraint procedures; and maintain knowledge of program rules and adult-care standards.
For geriatric patients ages 65 and older, apply knowledge of aging and gerontological health and behavioral care; gather information from patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team; develop care plans; use interventions to restore function and prevent complications or excess disability; and maintain knowledge of treatments, medications, and side effects relevant to this age group.
For chemically dependent patients, assess and document care needs from admission through discharge; collaborate with chemical-dependency staff on discharge and follow-up care; and remain aware of how personal co-dependency issues may affect work performance and relationships.