MENTAL HEALTH TECH (FT Nights)

Riverside Healthcare•Kankakee, IL

15h•$19 - $23

About The Position

A Mental Health Technician (MHT) performs selected patient care activities under the supervision of the Program Director and/or Nurse Manager. Primary duties include observing and recording patient information pertinent to the treatment plan and reporting this information to the Staff Registered Nurse. This position is also responsible for escorting and monitoring patient activities and attending to their personal needs. The MHT must be capable of physically assisting patients, dealing with patient emergencies and working as a member of the clinical team. Supervisory Responsibility: None required for this position Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Hours of work and days are subject to the needs of the Program which operates on a 24 hour; seven days a week basis. Please refer to Program or Hospital attendance policy for additional direction on shifts, holidays and attendance. Work Environment: MHTs work in close contact with patients who have moderate to severe psychiatric concerns and/or behavioral issues. There is the possibility MHTs could be exposed to violent behavior from patients and/or infectious diseases as part of their daily duties. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential core function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, experience, and ability necessary to perform this job. Essential Core Functions: Restore and promote patients health by assisting in their individual therapeutic treatment plan Conducts activities in accordance with patient diagnosis and needs Attend to patient personal needs (oral hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.) as required. Escort and monitor patients; and provide line-of-sight or one-to-one support to patients as ordered by the physician Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission; maintain patient property list Regularly observe and document patients behaviors, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and weight Monitor and document patients food and fluid intake; feeding patients as required Complete and document 15 minute (or less) visual checks on patients per unit/hospital policy Insure patient dignity and respect patient values Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families and staff Mains patient privacy and confidentiality; and protects operations by keeping patient and program information confidential Operate within ethical standards Collaborate with physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary team members Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and regulatory standards Coordinate and supervise therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans Help maintain unit cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort Assist in orientation for patients and families Per RN direction, and using approved methods, assist in safely placing patients in seclusion or restraints; observe suicide/seclusion precautions Monitor visitors and supervise visitation Intervene with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules. Report any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, and danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit/facility safety rules. Assist in emergency care if necessary Maintain continuity among peers by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs Protect patients and employees by adhering to safety standards; infection-control policies and protocols; storage procedures; and controlled substance regulations Use hygienic practices and teach patient hygienic practices Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings and activities Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs Completes all required educational sessions, including staff meetings and competencies per unit/hospital policy Insure operations of equipment by calling for repairs; and evaluating new equipment and techniques Assist with tele psych equipment as required Provide feedback to supervisor on ongoing basis in regards to concerns, improvements, changes, etc. Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift and as needed and documents appropriately. Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure. Non-essential Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Staff may be required to serve as a patient sitter and may be floated to other units based on operational need. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED
Crisis prevention certification as required prior to working on the unit
CPR certification required
Ability to manage anger, fear, hostility, and violence of others appropriately
Ability to make decisions under pressure
Ability to manage stress appropriately
Proficient in applicable software applications
Excellent interpersonal skills
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines
Comfortable working in confined or crowded areas
Comfortable working alone or in a team environment
Proficient written and verbal communication skills
Ability to read and comprehend instructions and correspondence moderate in complexity
Ability to communicate the needs of the patients

Nice To Haves

Preferred one-year experience with appropriate education.
Preferred college level courses inn Psychology or related field.
Preferred experience in medical or psychiatric setting.

Responsibilities

Restore and promote patients health by assisting in their individual therapeutic treatment plan
Conducts activities in accordance with patient diagnosis and needs
Attend to patient personal needs (oral hygiene, toileting, bathing, dressing, transferring, etc.) as required.
Escort and monitor patients; and provide line-of-sight or one-to-one support to patients as ordered by the physician
Check and document luggage and personal belongings upon admission; maintain patient property list
Regularly observe and document patients behaviors, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and weight
Monitor and document patients food and fluid intake; feeding patients as required
Complete and document 15 minute (or less) visual checks on patients per unit/hospital policy
Insure patient dignity and respect patient values
Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families and staff
Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality; and protects operations by keeping patient and program information confidential
Operate within ethical standards
Collaborate with physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary team members
Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and regulatory standards
Coordinate and supervise therapeutic activities for individual patients and for groups in accordance with patient care treatment plans
Help maintain unit cleanliness and neatness for patient comfort
Assist in orientation for patients and families
Per RN direction, and using approved methods, assist in safely placing patients in seclusion or restraints; observe suicide/seclusion precautions
Monitor visitors and supervise visitation
Intervene with patients who disregard, violate, or ignore unit safety rules. Report any signs of increasing aggression, suicidal behavior, and danger of elopement, violation of smoking rules, or violation of any other unit/facility safety rules.
Assist in emergency care if necessary
Maintain continuity among peers by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs
Protect patients and employees by adhering to safety standards; infection-control policies and protocols; storage procedures; and controlled substance regulations
Use hygienic practices and teach patient hygienic practices
Attends and contributes to therapeutic groups, community meetings and activities
Attends appropriate facility in-service training programs
Completes all required educational sessions, including staff meetings and competencies per unit/hospital policy
Insure operations of equipment by calling for repairs; and evaluating new equipment and techniques
Assist with tele psych equipment as required
Provide feedback to supervisor on ongoing basis in regards to concerns, improvements, changes, etc.
Reports patient observations (assigned, group, milieu) to RN every shift and as needed and documents appropriately.
Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Benefits

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more so your journey at and away from work is remarkable.
Our Total Rewards package includes:
Base compensation within the positions pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or trainin
Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program
Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work