2nd Shift Psychiatric Care Technician
About The Position
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is hiring a Psychiatric Care Technician at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a 72-bed Joint Commission-accredited state mental health facility in Danville, Virginia. The department operates state facilities providing structured, intensive services for people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or substance use service needs, and supports recovery, self-determination, and wellness. Psychiatric Technicians work directly with patients to help achieve therapeutic goals through activities of daily living, respond to patients’ concerns, encourage participation in activities, intervene in behavioral problems and crises, and promote awareness and coping skills related to judicial controls when applicable. Patients may become verbally or physically aggressive. The technician must understand and use the least restrictive interventions available under hospital policy and avoid seclusion and restraint whenever possible. The position requires distinguishing appropriate from inappropriate behavior through observation and communication, interacting therapeutically with patients, and monitoring and reporting changes in medical or psychiatric status. Work involves lifting objects weighing more than 50 pounds and walking or standing for at least 75% of the shift. The schedule includes two 12-hour second-shift 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. Employees work 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 performing 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.
- Ability to work the stated second-shift schedule, some rotating holidays, and every other weekend.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in a psychiatric, healthcare, acute care, long-term care, or correctional setting.
- High school diploma or GED.
- Veteran status.
Responsibilities
- Work directly with patients to help achieve therapeutic goals through activities of daily living.
- Attend to patients’ problems and concerns and encourage participation in activities.
- Provide intervention for behavioral problems and crisis situations.
- Promote patients’ awareness and coping skills in 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.
- Distinguish appropriate from inappropriate patient behavior through observing, conversing, and listening.
- 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.
Benefits
- Second-shift differential of $2.50 per hour on weekdays and $3.00 per hour on weekends and weekday holidays.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
