2nd Shift Psychiatric Care Technician

DHRM•Danville, VA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Psychiatric Care Technician works directly with patients at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a 72-bed Joint Commission-accredited state mental health facility in Danville, Virginia. The role supports patients in achieving therapeutic goals through activities of daily living, attends to patient concerns, encourages participation in activities, responds to behavior problems and crisis situations, and promotes awareness and coping skills related to the realities of judicial controls when applicable. Technicians work with patients who may become verbally or physically aggressive. They are expected to understand and use the least restrictive interventions available under hospital policy and to avoid seclusion and restraint whenever possible. The work involves monitoring and reporting changes in patients’ medical and psychiatric status and requires substantial walking or standing, as well as the ability to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds. This is a second-shift schedule consisting of two 12-hour shifts (11:00 a.m.–11:30 p.m.) and two 8-hour shifts (3:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m.), with a 30-minute meal break. The position includes some holidays on a rotating basis and every other weekend. Second-shift differentials are $2.50 per hour on weekdays and $3.00 per hour on weekends and weekday holidays.

Requirements

Basic computer skills; training will be provided for Electronic Health Record documentation.
A valid driver’s license that remains valid throughout employment.
Ability to follow written and verbal directions.
Physical and mental ability to participate in patient treatment and behavior management, including manual tasks, walking, sitting, standing, lifting, seeing, hearing, breathing, learning, writing, and performing mathematical calculations.
Ability to lift objects weighing more than 50 pounds.
Ability to walk and/or stand for at least 75% of the shift.
Ability to work with patients who may become verbally and/or physically aggressive.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a psychiatric or healthcare facility, acute care, long-term care, or correctional setting.
High school diploma or GED.
Veteran status.

Responsibilities

Work directly with patients to support therapeutic goals through activities of daily living.
Attend to patients’ problems and concerns and encourage their participation in activities.
Provide intervention for behavior problems and crisis situations.
Promote patients’ awareness and coping skills for dealing with the realities of judicial controls, as required.
Use the least restrictive interventions available under hospital policy and avoid seclusion and restraint whenever possible.
Observe, converse with, and listen to patients to distinguish appropriate from inappropriate behavior.
Interact with patients in a therapeutic manner.
Monitor and report changes in patients’ medical and psychiatric status.
Complete documentation in an Electronic Health Record after training.
Work every other weekend and some holidays on a rotating basis.