Mental Health Technician IV - Crisis (Temp Observation Unit)

SpectraCare•Dothan, AL

8h•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides intermediate skilled direct care and oversight to individuals served in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and any associated units. Duties include monitoring individual's behaviors and interactions, activities of daily living, facilitating educational groups, teaching coping skills, encouraging adherence to treatment requirements, and safety observations. This is an "awake" position, meaning no sleeping is permitted while on duty.

Requirements

Knowledge of mental illness, substance use, development disabilities, autism spectrum disorder
Knowledge and understanding of crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to have patience and emotional stability.
Ability to respond professionally in a crisis situation.
Ability to perform a wide variety of job tasks.
Knowledge of business English, spelling and arithmetic.
Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
Ability to operate office machines such as computer, fax machine, and copy machine.
Ability to read instruction manuals printed in English.
Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
Ability to perform a wide variety of job tasks, in a safe manner without endangering any employee, individual, or asset.
Ability to follow through with detailed assignments with minimal supervision.
Ability to follow orders and directives and work with supervisor and other staff.
Ability to adhere to SpectraCare policy, HIPAA laws, and 42 CFR regarding confidentiality.
Ability to adhere to health and safety standards.
Ability to stay awake during working shift.
Basic knowledge of individual’s rights
Ability to communicate effectively with seriously mental ill / substance use individuals and staff, both written and oral.
Ability to adapt to conditions which may vary considerably.
Ability to relay coping skills, positive attitude skills and self-esteem.
Ability to facilitate educational groups to individuals in the unit.
Ability to function and perform well in stressful environments and manage work related stress to ensure safety of those in the unit.
Ability to travel as necessary.
Ability to function within professional boundaries with patients and others.
Ability to assist in establishing support systems and interface with agencies, organizations, and groups.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with other staff, Program Director and all levels of organizational staff.
Ability to demonstrate initiative.
Complete initial new hire training.
Complete required on the job training (OJT) training by department.
Obtain proper certifications needed to perform job duties.
Complete annual training as required by the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
There is an occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body weight on hips and legs. This position is maintained for several minutes.
Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
Strong grasp is needed to open doors throughout the facility, and to maintain constant contact with an individual during a restrain procedure or with other hold techniques.
There are times that require the employee to be able to ambulate as quickly as possible to assist coworkers with an individual in a restraint procedure.
Must be able to travel to system facilities and/or other locations/outings with exposure to changing weather conditions.
Work location is primarily in a temperature-controlled setting with minimal periods of sitting at a desk with associated repetitive motions. Must understand and practice good ergonomic movements to avoid injuries.
Physical ability to correctly lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds on an infrequent basis.
Required to talk to or hear staff, individuals, and/or others.
Required to stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, lunge, squat and/or reach frequently.
There may be times when mopping, sweeping, making beds, washing/drying clothes for individuals may be done.
Employee may be exposed to one or more of the following: disagreeable odors, chemicals such as disinfectants, cleansers, soaps, etc; latex, plastic and other materials used for personal protective equipment; noise and distractions; unpleasant sights; unpredictable behaviors; body fluids; contagious diseases; and/or wet floors.
High School Diploma or GED required.
Valid Driver's license and good MVR.
Must meet insurability requirements to drive a system vehicle (21 years of age).
Pass background check and drug screen as required.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of clinical experience in the provision of direct client care.
At least one year of clinical experience in the provision of client care in a mental health setting

Responsibilities

Provide direct care and oversight to individuals served in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and any associated units, temporary observation, mobile crisis teams including but not limited to: monitor individual’s behaviors and interactions with others, activities of daily living, safety observations and other duties as assigned. Prepares snacks and/or meals for individuals as required by facility.
Visually observe individuals admitted into the unit as required to ensure safety of those served as well as other staff in the unit; may be required to perform 1:1 individual observation.
Perform unit rounds, as required, assessing the safety of the unit and individual in care.
Note significant changes in individual’s behavior and verbalizations, watching for cues of increased anxiety or agitation and report to the clinical team.
Assist other staff members with actively disturbed and/or violent individuals, requesting for back-up personnel when needed.
Assists in the education of individuals regarding behavioral / emotional techniques and support.
Prepares food and/or snack for individuals in the unit, monitoring individuals who may need assistance with eating.
Assist in the transfer and discharge of individuals by assisting with the individual in dressing and collecting personal possessions, valuables and carrying out the established discharge and transfer procedures.
Utilize behavioral and crisis intervention techniques to prevent injury to individuals and others and to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for individuals; respond to crisis situations appropriately, effectively, and calmly to ensure ongoing safety of individuals and others.
Serves as a positive role model by establishing maintaining positive, therapeutic relationships and appropriate boundaries with individuals and/or their families.
May provide educational group facilitation when appropriate.
Plans, organizes, and leads skills-based groups related to social skills, coping skills, self-esteem, relaxation, etc.
Document groups according to SpectraCare Personnel Policies and Procedures, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
Orders, properly stores, and maintains appropriate quantity of food used for snack.
Maintain pantry stock and discard food upon expiration.
Maintains/ assists with the cleanliness of the unit as required.
Adhere to health and sanitation standards set for personal cleanliness and cleanliness of all helpers.
Assist with changing bed linens, etc.
Ensure individual treatment areas are clean and free of clutter.
Assist with maintaining individual’s records in a professional manner and in accordance with all specified guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all individual records in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR and all other applicable state or federal laws.
Ensure all written documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
Ensure that all records are staffed within standard time frames, with service plan revised as needed and in accordance with standards.
Ensure that all progress notes are completed promptly, written in a professional manner and in accordance with policies and procedures.
Ensure that goals are appropriate, specific, and the focus of treatment.
Ensure that all individual information is kept up to date.
Ability to safely operate system vehicles to include wheelchair/handicap vehicles when transporting individuals.
Assists individuals on and off the vehicle, to include individuals with limited mobility.
Correctly loading and unloading wheelchair users on lift to ensure safety.
Correctly secure wheelchair users on bus safely by ensuring wheelchair and individual is strapped in securely utilizing the correct belts to prevent injuries.
Conduct system vehicle maintenance checklist as required by SpectraCare policy.
Maintain cleanliness of vehicles.
Transport individuals, as needed.
Follow guidelines of Cell Phone policy while driving system vehicles.
Responsible for helping individuals with basic living skills/functions and/or learning opportunities.
Assist individuals with hygiene needs.
Teach individuals about maintaining proper hygiene and grooming to increase level of functioning.
Assist with cleaning individual if soiled and replacing soiled clothes/linens with clean ones.
Performs other duties including but not limited to:
Treat individuals with respect and courtesy at all times.
Ensure necessary documentation is completed in a timely manner with minimal errors and in compliance with applicable guidelines and policies.
Receive and respond to inquiries promptly and courteously.
Meet with supervisor as established.
Follow guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
Participate in trainings, workshops, in-services and/or administrative meetings as assigned.
Ensure any necessary documentation is completed and up to date before annual leave or personal leave is taken.
Provide all support staff duties for absent secretary where needed and requested by supervisor.
Adhere to Dress Code as set forth in the SpectraCare policies and procedures.
Performs duties independently and/or with minimal supervision.
Works in a cooperative manner with other SpectraCare employees, individuals, and/or family members.
Perform all duties with the highest standard of ethics.
Functions within professional boundaries with individuals and others.
Works well with other staff and individuals to ensure safety of program, individuals and other staff.
Functions and performs well in stressful environments and manages work related stress to ensure individual safety.
Applies seclusion, protective holds and/or restraint per SpectraCare policy and procedures.
Documents crises, protective holds, seclusions and restraints.
Participates in beginning/end of shift unit reporting.
Demonstrates willingness to work on any unit / program at SpectraCare based on facility needs as directed.
Other services, tasks, functions, and responsibilities deemed necessary; not otherwise specified.
Regular attendance with timely arrival and departure according to scheduled hours.
Must be able to work full time with rotating assignments as necessary to include but not limited to overtime hours, nights and/or weekends as scheduled.
To ensure individual safety while on duty, must remain awake during scheduled working hours.