Mental Health Technician- North- Full Time Days

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare•Memphis, TN

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician provides a safe, structured therapeutic milieu for Behavioral Health/Psychiatric Services inpatients, including monitoring individual and group counseling. The role models behavior consistent with MLH’s Mission, Vision and Values and contributes to patient care in coordination with Mental Health Counselors and the interdisciplinary team. The position supports admissions and discharges, patient and family orientation, patient activities, documentation, unit safety and orderliness, and basic personal care under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. It also requires communication and clinical observation skills, responsiveness to emergencies, and the ability to de-escalate and intervene in potentially violent situations according to established policies.

Requirements

Associate degree in Behavioral Science.
HEARTSAVER certification from the American Heart Association.
Skills in interpersonal relations and communication, and application of principles and concepts of human behavior and abnormal psychology.
Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.
Ability to de-escalate tense, potentially violent situations and intervene in violent situations involving patients who may be delusional, aggressive, or agitated, following NVCI principles and established policy and procedure.
Paraprofessional clinical skills such as vital signs, temperature/pulse/respiration, bed and bath care, activities of daily living, CPR, and NVCI.
Ability to record, analyze, and report mental status; special precautions such as suicidality, homicidality, and elopement; physical problems and medical acuity; and social, religious, and cultural concerns.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing, including clear speech and acceptable pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and word usage; knowledge of telephone etiquette.
Ability to tolerate verbal abuse on occasion without losing control.
Ability to provide individual counseling and facilitate group counseling.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic calculations.
Occasional exposure to violent and physically aggressive patients.
Ability to perform physical activities that may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion; good balance and coordination are required.
Medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 200 pounds unassisted and 300 pounds with assistance.
Close visual acuity, including color vision, depth perception, and field of vision, to perform patient assessments, prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal, or read extensively.
Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact and exposure to patient body fluids and hazardous or poisonous materials.
Occasional travel outside the facility.
Annual TB skin test, CPR, and NVCI.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience in a behavioral health treatment environment.
Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
Knowledge of basic computer functions and operations; previous keyboard experience or computer education.

Responsibilities

Participate in the admission and discharge process and orient patients and families to the psychiatric unit.
Perform clerical and data-entry activities related to patient care.
Provide high-quality patient care and assist Mental Health Counselors with interdisciplinary treatment planning by communicating observations, suggesting interventions, and participating in patient-care meetings.
Lead recreational, leisure, and skills activities.
Maintain unit orderliness, safety, and supplies according to unit safety policies.
Document patient interactions, including clinical interventions, patient progress, and quality improvement activities.
Use and maintain effective communication systems within Psychiatric Services and with other units and departments of Methodist Health Systems.
Assist patients with personal care, activities of daily living, and basic needs under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
Perform other job functions as assigned or requested.