Intermediate Services Float Psychiatric Technician

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits starting on dayone

401(k) retirement plan

Competitive pay

Job summary

University of Utah Health seeks a Psychiatric Technician to provide safe, therapeutic care for psychiatric patients in the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. The role supports admissions, group activities, care planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration to promote recovery and well‑being.

Responsibilities include maintaining safety, guiding families, leading group activities, and participating in treatment planning.

Qualifications

• Minimum six months of behavioral health or direct patient care experience.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe and hazard-free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior, conducting room searches, and reporting unsafe conditions.
• Assist with admission of new patients by gathering routine information for nursing assessment.
• Orient patients and families to the facility and its policies and procedures.
• Escort patients to appointments and activities using therapeutic interventions to ensure safety.
• Lead activity and conversation groups to support therapy and provide a therapeutic milieu.
• Contribute to patient treatment planning, teaching and discharge planning.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team conferences and assist with care plans.
• Assist with training and quality assurance programs and maintain supplies.

Skills

Behavioral health

Crisis management

Group facilitation

Communication skills

Patient care

Job description

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position provides a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients and assists with the provision of basic patient care needs.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Why join University of Utah Health?

• Competitive pay
• Healthcare benefits starting on day one
• 401(k) retirement plan
• A work environment that values dedication, learning, and work-life balance Benefits Overview: https://employment.utah.edu/benefits/
• Parking Information: https://commuterservices.utah.edu/

Join our team and grow your career with us. Learn more about upcoming opportunities and events at uofuhealth.org/jobfairs.

Upon selection, candidates must complete all required pre-employment requirements, including reference checks, a background check, drug screening, and required immunizations.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Assists with maintaining a safe and hazard free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior, conducting patient room searches, reporting unsafe conditions and applying appropriate emotional and physical support.
• Performs or assists with the admission of new patients by gathering routine information for nursing assessment, searches patients and personal effects for contraband, documents personal effects and other appropriate information.
• Orients the patient and patient's family to the facility and the policies and procedures.
• Escorts the patients to off-unit appointments and activities using therapeutic interventions to ensure the safety of the patient, hospital staff, and other University patients and visitors.
• Assists with providing a therapeutic milieu for patients by encouraging patients to participate in recreational activities and group therapies.
• Assists with supportive therapy for select patients by leading activity and conversation groups.
• Assists in the development of patient behavioral expectations.
• May function as a preceptor to new Psychiatric Technicians.
• Assists with the unit's training and quality assurance programs, as well as ordering, stocking, and maintaining clerical and patient supplies. Provides an annual educational in-service to co-workers.
• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and may coordinate with leadership to maintain department forms.
• Assists with initiating and contributing to patient treatment planning, teaching and discharge planning.
• Participates in patient care team conferences by sharing observations of patient's progress toward identified goals and assists the primary Registered Nurse with the development, evaluation, and revision of patient care plans.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to recognize when a patient is having an adverse reaction to medication and report it in a timely manner to the Registered Nurse.
• Ability to assess a patient that can possibly hurt himself/herself and others and report this information to the Registered Nurse, and has the ability to assist with restraints and seclusion.
• Interpersonal skills to acquire the trust of the patients and respond appropriately in a crisis situation.
• Ability to utilize the principles of group dynamics when co-leading a group to facilitate the development of social, behavioral, and communication skills among group members.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.
• Knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skill.

Qualifications

Required

• Six months of behavioral health or direct patient care experience; may include CNA, MA, HCA, Teacher’s aide or assistant.

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Youth Intermediate Services Float Psychiatric Technician

This position supports HMHI Youth Intermediate Services (Residential, Day Treatment, Intensive Outpatient) Programs. The float position provides coverage and additional staffing support to each program as needed. When not needed in intermediate services, the technician may also be assigned to the inpatient units at HMHI. The position is full time with 40 scheduled hours. Shifts are Monday-Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM, though occasionally this may shift to 7:00AM-3:30PM for Residential Treatment or Inpatient shifts. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional flexibility and ability to adapt to changes in setting and patient populations. Intermediate service programs operate in cohesive teams and the float technician is viewed as a valued member of each team.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing care in a psychiatric setting. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking

Multi-lingual Candidates Welcomed

To inquire about this posting, email: [e-mail]

EEO Statement

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patient populations.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics, a part of The University of Utah, is an Aff…

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources office at 801-581-6500. If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu/

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or Hospitals and Clinics Human Resources at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

Job Details

Reg/Temp: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Shift: Day

Work Schedule: M-F: 0800-1630 and/or 0700-1530

Clinical/Non-Clinical Status: Clinical

Location Name: Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI)

Workplace Set Up: On-site

City: SALT LAKE CITY

State: UT

Department: HMH OPC 93H KIDSTAR

Category: Social Services