Licensed Mental Health Worker - Extra-Help Licensed Mental Health Worker

County of Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Merced seeks a qualified Psychiatric Technician to join a therapeutic team in Merced, CA. You will monitor patients, administer routine medications, maintain clinical records and participate in crisis intervention under psychiatric backup.

Applicants should have one year of nursing experience in medical or psychiatric settings and hold a California license as a Psychiatric Technician, RN, or LVN, plus a CA driver’s license. Extra-Help positions may be up to 25 hours per week.

Qualifications

• One year of nursing experience in medical or psychiatric settings.
• Possession of a valid California license as a Psychiatric Technician, Registered Nurse, or Licensed Vocational Nurse.
• Possess a valid California driver's license at time of appointment and maintain.
• Ability to perform under stressful conditions and respond appropriately.
• Employee may be required to handle a take down procedure to restrain hostile/violent clients.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Responsibilities

• Works as a member of a therapeutic team.
• Monitors behavior and functioning level of patients.
• Provides psycho-educational materials, information or medication.
• Maintains clinical records.
• Prepares progress reports.
• Administers routine medication orders.
• Monitors patients' medical needs.
• May supervise an intensive in-patient residential unit during a shift.
• Interviews clients to determine need for acute psychiatric treatment.
• Provides crisis intervention for families and consumers.
• Makes referrals to other programs.
• Consults with community agencies regarding clients in crisis.
• Assists with telephone coverage.
• Participates in in-service training and staff meetings.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Communication

Teamwork

Data entry

Calm under pressure

Tools

Office equipment

Job description

This recruitment is being established to obtain a current eligible list for both Full-Time and Extra-Help vacancies. Extra-Help are not entitled to county benefits and are limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week. Extra-Help pay is $32.30 per hour.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Works as a member of a therapeutic team.
• Monitors behavior and functioning level of patients.
• Provides psycho-educational materials, information or medication.
• Maintains clinical records.
• Prepares progress reports.
• Administers routine medication orders.
• Monitors patients' medical needs.
• May have responsible charge of an intensive in-patient residential treatment facility during an assigned shift.
• With psychiatric backup, interviews persons to determine need for acute psychiatric treatment.
• Provides crisis intervention for families and consumers.
• Makes referrals to other programs.
• Consults with community agencies regarding clients in crisis.
• Assists with telephone coverage.
• Participates in continuing in-service training, supervisory conferences and staff meetings.

Experience:

One (1) year of experience providing nursing in a medical or psychiatric setting.

License:

Possession of a valid California license as a Psychiatric Technician, Registered Nurse, or Licensed Vocational Nurse.

Possess a valid California driver's license at time of appointment and maintain.

SOME POSITIONS IN THIS CLASSIFICATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS PURSUANT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECTION 2, B

• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Make presentations.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Occasionally kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and move with help objects weighing over 100 pounds.
• The employee shall be physically ableto handle a \"take down\" procedure (restrain hostile/violent clients in a crisis situation) as warrantedduring the course of performing their assigned duties.
• Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Sit, stand or walk for long periods of time.
• Duties require exposure to patients who may be hostile, violent, mentally ill, and/or who may have infectious diseases.
• Positions assigned to the Marie Green In-Patient Unit and Crisis Stabilization Unit work shifts and holidays.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:

• Vocational nursing methods and techniques.
• Scope and activities of public and private health and welfare agencies.
• Principles, procedures, and techniques of crisis evaluation.
• Intervention techniques for mental illness.
• Psychiatric medication and side effects.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with others in person, in writing, and over the telephone, using tact and diplomacy.
• Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with those contacted during the course of work.
• Maintain flexibility in treatment programs and therapeutic interventions.
• Maintain the confidentiality of client information.
• Work within a team structure.
• Use sound judgment in analyzing situations and taking effective courses of action.
• Maintain responsible charge of an intensive in-patient residential treatment facility during an assigned shift.
• Evaluate consumers for 5150 evaluation for hospitalization.

Why Merced County? A message from the CEO