Mental Health Tech

UHS•Bowling Green, KY

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides routine non-acute physical care, for the patient, as well as, educational groups based on needs identified in the Master Treatment Plan. This role involves following the program schedule, ensuring patient compliance with rules and guidelines, and maintaining professional conduct with patients, families, and others. The position requires accurate completion of patient procedures and documentation, attendance at inservices, and adherence to safety protocols like hand-washing and Universal Precautions. The Mental Health Tech is responsible for contributing to a therapeutic milieu, communicating effectively with the RN, and facilitating activity-focused program groups. They must incorporate service-specific knowledge (child, adolescent, sexually reactive children, sex offender, or dual diagnosis/chemical dependency) into daily activities, demonstrating an understanding of mental health and program-specific issues, and prioritizing patient needs according to the treatment plan. Maintaining CPR certification and willingness to accept additional responsibilities are also key aspects of this role.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Preferred experience in a mental health field with demonstrable competence in required knowledge and responsibilities.
Must demonstrate competence in gathering designated admission information, Recreational Therapy information and explaining the Patient Rights and Responsibilities.
Must demonstrate basic knowledge of emotional and mental health and disease concepts including the disease of addiction.
Must have clear communication / interaction skills.
Must demonstrate competency in facilitating skills groups.
Maintains up to date CPR certification.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience in a mental health field with demonstrable competence in required knowledge and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Follows program schedule with minimal supervision and ensures patient compliance with program rules and guidelines.
Is courteous and professional to patients, family members and significant others.
Completes patient procedures accurately and within the time frame specified by hospital policy.
Completes required documentation specific to position in a clear and concise manner, showing understanding of patient and unit goals.
Attends scheduled hospital inservices and completes staff education attendance record.
Practices good hand-washing techniques and follows Universal Precautions.
Alerts supervisors to risk management and quality concerns.
Dresses appropriately for the position.
Is flexible and positive in accepting responsibility for patients' leisure time and maintenance of the therapeutic milieu, showing creativity in planning patients’ free time and being involved and physically active in all aspects of patients program.
Checks with RN prior to and at the end of shift for report and direction, communicating observations clearly and alerting RN to pertinent and/or high risk changes in patient conditions.
Displays consistency and is positive in interactions with others, accepts criticism and suggestions, and maintains safe boundaries with patients and co-workers, using self-disclosure conservatively.
Willingly serves as preceptor to new employees and role-models positive images.
Facilitates activity-focused program groups as assigned, ensuring necessary materials are available, groups begin and end on time, and pertinent information is clearly communicated to the unit RN. Demonstrates and teaches good sportsmanship.
Incorporates service specific knowledge (child, adolescent, sexually reactive children, sex offender, or dual diagnosis/chemical dependency) into daily activities.
Utilizes developmental and program specific knowledge in the delivery of patient care.
Has sound understanding of mental health and program specific issues.
Understands and demonstrates the ability to prioritize the patient’s needs according to the treatment plan.
Facilitates groups as assigned demonstrating understanding of group process and the disease concepts of each specific diagnosis group.
Maintains up to date CPR certification.
Willingly accepts additional responsibilities outside routine job functions.
Adheres to all safety policies and safe work practices.
Attends hospital safety trainings.
Adheres to all hospital policies and procedures.
Reports all accidents immediately.