Mental Health Technician, Relief - Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona Healthcare•Flagstaff, AZ

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician functions as an active member of the treatment team, providing direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. The role supports patients’ personal care and comfort, maintains a safe and clean environment, and participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities. Depending on qualifications, the position may be hired at the Mental Health Tech, Certified Mental Health Tech, or Lead Mental Health Tech level. The technician monitors patient safety and behavior, performs observations and vital-sign checks, facilitates scheduled groups, contributes to shift reports and treatment planning, and assists with admissions and activities of daily living. The role uses therapeutic practices and crisis intervention techniques, supports patient rights and treatment goals, maintains unit structure, and completes patient documentation in the electronic medical record. The technician also participates in education, mentoring, required training, and safety and compliance activities.

Requirements

Mental Health Tech: High school diploma or GED.
Lead Mental Health Tech: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, or a related health and human services field.
Mental Health Tech Certified/Lead Mental Health Tech: Unrestricted Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate.
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification required within 3 months of hire.
American Heart Association BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
Fingerprint Clearance Card application number required upon hire and Fingerprint Clearance Card required within 90 days of hire.
Mental Health Tech: Minimum of 2 years of experience in Behavioral Health or a related health field is preferred.
Mental Health Tech Certified/Lead Mental Health Tech: Minimum of 2 years of experience in Behavioral Health or a healthcare-related field is required.
Understanding of computers and competence using computers and basic software programs.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree preferred for Mental Health Tech/Certified Mental Health Tech.

Responsibilities

Recognize and respond to priorities in patient care and take accountability for patient safety while on duty.
Follow patient precautions, including suicide and elopement precautions, and check patients for contraband.
Conduct patient observation checks at Q15 or at random intervals as clinically directed.
Perform daily or clinically directed vital-sign evaluations.
Facilitate patient groups, including AM check-in and PM wrap-up groups.
Participate in shift reports, communicating behavioral observations to registered nurses, counselors, and psychiatrists.
Assist the Registered Nurse with skin checks, issuing unit clothing and hygiene supplies, and orienting new patients to the unit.
Set appropriate limits for patients and assist with activities of daily living, personal hygiene, and hygiene education.
Use appropriate crisis intervention techniques, including verbal de-escalation and physical hands-on approaches such as mechanical restraints, as required.
Advocate for patients and uphold patient rights.
Maintain a safe, clean, therapeutic environment and facilitate a positive therapeutic milieu.
Search patients, their belongings, and rooms routinely for contraband.
Provide scheduled groups and activities, maintain consistent and predictable milieu structure, and model and teach appropriate social skills.
Apply sound therapeutic practices and contribute feedback to nurses and program staff to support treatment plans and goals.
Maintain safety during meals, visitation, and phone times.
Build trusting, therapeutic relationships with psychotic, demented, and other alternatively functioning patients to support treatment goals.
Participate in evidence-based learning, professional development, in-services, educational seminars, and mentoring or educating colleagues and students.
Complete documentation and patient records in the electronic medical record, including timely documentation of assessments, interventions, and patient responses.
Keep required certifications and licenses current, complete mandatory modules and job-specific training on time, report safety incidents through the Midas/RDE tool, attend safety training, and monitor the work environment for safety issues.
Follow regulatory, organizational, hospital, and departmental standards, policies, and procedures, and practice safely and cost-effectively.