Mental Health Worker

Kaweah Delta Health Care District•Visalia, CA

27d•Onsite

About The Position

Entry level position with primary responsibility for safety, comfort, and support of acute psychiatric patients. Integral part of multidisciplinary team supporting wellness and recovery of patients with psychiatric disorders and their families.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
License / Certification Required: HeartSaver AED
Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.
Desire to work with involuntary/persistently mentally ill adults is crucial.
Communicate effectively and non-defensively with patients and family members.
Ability to assist in verbal or physical de-escalation, when required.
Ability to assist patient care staff with activities of daily living (bath, dress, feed, reposition, toilet).
Ability to meet physical demands of the position, including but not limited to assisting to restrain a patient.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma
Health field related courses
Experience with basic psychiatric and nursing skills; general patient care experience to support safety of patient, completion of Activities of Daily Living and patient mobility.

Responsibilities

Monitors patient behavior in a therapeutic care environment, setting limits when needed, and responsible for communicating observations to the team.
Performs and documents patient safety checks, and direct patient observation as patient safety advocate.
As assigned monitors patient visitors, assuring no contraband is in the room with the patient.
Assists with admission and discharge of patients, assists patients with changing into hospital attire, assists with contraband searches, inventory of patient belongings, meal delivery and nourishment/snack distribution.
Initiates and responds to Code Gray, participates in the holding of patients for involuntary medication administration, and restraint application.
Assists with emergency care by providing basic life support.
Monitors and ensures a safe environment of care according to policy.
Maintains a safe and clean working environment, including unit-based safety and basic infection control requirements.
Reports changes in patient condition to professional staff as soon as it is safe to do so.
Answers phones, retrieves charts, completes patient paperwork and documentation as assigned.
Follows all established safety guidelines to maintain safety for self, coworkers, and patients.
Monitors patients in protective or violent restraints, documenting observations and care provided.
Accompanies patients within Kaweah Health Mental Health Hospital (dining room, gym, outdoors, entry, exit, etc) and to community locations for court/assessment/testing.
Assists in gathering patients for MD's, groups, meals, etc.
Transports meals from dining area to unit for patients not clinically appropriate for off unit meals.
Provides a safe environment as a PSA for patients needing one to one or direct observation of more than one patient in a combined assignment, for patients who are at high risk for suicide, self-harm, elopement, falls or other identified risks by performing the below:
Provides constant observation as required by patient(s) specific risk.
Engages patient in safe activities such as coloring, conversations, music etc.
Provides general care as appropriate to the patient(s) assigned.
Ensures policies and procedures associated with the care of high-risk patients (suicide/self-harm, elopement risk, etc.) are followed.
Enlists support of Charge Nurse if needed.
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area.
Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs.
Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
Performs other duties as assigned.