Mental Health Tech - ARCC in Brattleboro, Vermont at Brattleboro Retreat

Job Summary: Performs nursing care responsibilities with supervision to ensure safe and consistent patient quality care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core Leadership Standards & Competencies

Exhibits essential working knowledge and assessment skills to recognize and report unusual symptoms and address special needs as they arise.

Meets the standards for documentation and communication to communicate necessary information about patients to treatment team. This includes Patient/Staff incident reports; Hazard/Near Miss reports completed within 24 hours of incident.

Documents behaviors and treatment, writing progress notes and reporting newly identified clinical needs or changes to manager immediately.

Demonstrates the ability to intervene in crisis situations:

• Monitor the milieu, targets potential crisis situations and intervene in a calm, supportive manner.
• Utilizes appropriate degree of verbal intervention, which contributes to crisis resolution.
• Demonstrates ability to physically intervene in crisis utilizing appropriate techniques.
• May lead a show of support, directing others in their roles
• Appropriately documents the crisis situation.

Initiates 1:1 supportive interactions with patients around treatment issues and writes patient progress notes according to daily assignment in a format that demonstrates patient s progress (or lack thereof) on objectives

identified in patient s treatment plan.

Responds to ADL problems and needs as they arise, documents assessment, intervention and patient's response in the medical record.

Performs constant observations, intermittent observations, specializing, checks or other forms of patient safety procedure and documents assigned.

Performs body and routine contraband searches.

Documents the census and sharps counts within the specified time limits as assigned.

Leads or co-leads supportive, psycho-educational groups with patients as directed by manager.

Demonstrates the ability to take and record vital signs (Wts., BP, tprs, I&O) and as assigned.

Demonstrates knowledge of specimen collection, storage and delivery criteria for toxicology testing.

Ability to role model and orient new MHT s to the unit.

Able to ensure patient safety while escorting patients (appt s/groups).

Able to set limits and to follow through by teaching alternate behavior.

Able to facilitate patient participation in daily treatment plan.

Is responsible for care of patients property.

Consistently addresses issues of self-disclosure according to program guidelines.

Maintains appropriate demeanor as a representative of the program and is a role model for the patients as

evidenced by appearance, hygiene and behavior.

Able to assume Charge MHT role for a given shift.

Department Specific Competencies

Adult Units

Demonstrates understanding of Chemical Dependency and Recovery.

Supports patient through detox by explaining process; reports unexpected symptoms to RN.

Demonstrates understanding of ECT and assists in post ECT treatment.

Adult PHP

Demonstrates knowledge of admission/discharge process.

Demonstrates knowledge of unit group process.

Demonstrates knowledge of therapeutic and crisis intervention.

Ability to act as a milieu coordinator.

Ability to perform Unit Clerk duties.

Demonstrates strong organizational skills.

Demonstrates knowledge and skill of computer use on the unit.

Child/Adolescent Units

Demonstrates knowledge of behavior protocols utilized on the program, i.e. Eating disorders. Privilege level system and timeout.

Demonstrates skillful interactions with families and collateral contacts.

Ability to coordinate and lead patient activities in the community (movies, shopping, etc.) while ensuring adequate supervision of patient behaviors.

Demonstrates safe management of medications per unit policies.

Child/Adolescent PHP

Ability to initiate and develop a curriculum for groups.

Ability to maintain regular communications around patient issues.

Organizational Competencies

Completes required mandatory education, e-learning courses assigned to improve skills and professional development courses required to maintain competency.

Assumes responsibility for continuing education and professional development in designated field and attends annual mandatory training.

Customer Service/Courtesy: Demonstrates concern and courtesy to patients, families, vendors, and the general public by giving appropriate information, advice, and assistance.

• Demonstrates compliance with the CS Standards of Behavior.

Interpersonal Relations: Demonstrates behaviors that encourage cooperation, support and teamwork with other employees.

Emergency Preparedness: Demonstrates or verbalizes proper procedures in responding to fire drill and disasters (RACE).

Safety: Demonstrates safe work practices appropriate for the position, i.e., how to report a safety hazard, proper body mechanics, and use of personal protective gear. Reports incidents according to procedures.

Infection Control: Demonstrates or states an understanding of standard precautions appropriate for the assigned position and the environment in which it is located.

Confidentiality: Maintains confidentiality of all personnel and patient information as documented by signed confidentiality statements and as described in Confidentiality & Privacy Policy and HIPAA policy and regulations.

Patient’s Rights: Demonstrates behaviors that recognize the rights of patients as defined in Patient Rights Policy and procedures.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

May be required to perform duties of lesser, equal or greater responsibility.

Physical Cognitive and Work Environment Requirements

Amount of Time

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in a human service related field with an emphasis on behavioral sciences OR high school diploma and preferably 2 years (minimum 1 year) related experience, preferably in a psychiatric setting.

Excellent interpersonal skills to relate effectively with co-workers and all members of the treatment team.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND ARCC MHT POSITIONS:

Bachelor’s degree and 21 years of age and experience working with children and youth; OR High School Diploma or GED and 21 years of age and two years’ experience interacting with children and youth.

Must have valid driver's license without any record of motor vehicle violations or convictions limiting driving privileges for day or evening shifts. Valid unrestricted driver’s license is preferred for overnight shifts. (See Human Resource Employment Policy for further details.)