Mental Health Technician

Socket.dev; Rocky Top (TN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Rocky Top, Tennessee, is seeking a Mental Health Technician (MHT) to support the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic setting and to carry out patient care activities within the MHT's training and experience.

The MHT will maintain safe, professional standards for patient care in compliance with Federal and State regulations, and collaborate with licensed personnel to monitor patients, perform routine tasks, and document observations accurately.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Certified Nursing Assistant preferred.
• 1 year inpatient psychiatric experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Crisis intervention experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and enforce unit rules.
• Apply supportive behavior to de-escalate patients.
• Perform vital signs, weights, nutrition monitoring.
• Assist with laundry, meals, and personal care.
• Document patient observations accurately and timely.
• Escort patients to meetings and therapy sessions.

Skills

CNA certification

Crisis intervention

Patient care

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Overview

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) supports the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic setting by performing routinely assigned tasks and carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT's training and experience. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for patient care in accordance with Federal and State regulations, policies and procedures and accreditation and quality standards

Responsibilities

• Continually monitors and enforces compliance with unit rules.
• Effectively applies supportive behavior when assisting in the control of patients who exhibit unacceptable behavior.
• Demonstrates the ability to employ de-escalation, crisis intervention, and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Completes unit safety checks.
• Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed.
• Complies with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attends required in-services to keep self-informed.
• Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel.
• Performs vital signs, weights, ADL monitoring, nutritional monitoring, and communicates findings to the nurse.
• Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining of belongings as needed.
• Assists at risk/physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
• Individualizes all patient care activities to the age specific/disability/cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
• Communicates and documents patient observation and date effectively.
• Documents patient's departure from unit with 100% accuracy and within defined timelines.
• Documents significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake and patient observation findings on assigned patients and as requested by the registered nurse, with 100% accuracy and within defined timelines.
• Communicates outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff in a timely manner.
• Communicates follow-up on patient care responsibilities, incomplete assignments, ongoing activities and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuity of care.
• Escorts patients in and out of weekly Treatment Team meetings and in and out of visits with practitioners and therapists.
• Performs goals and activity groups to keep patients engaged outside of required therapy groups and report findings to clinical services.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Certified Nursing Assistant preferred
• At least 1 year experience working with psychiatric patients in an inpatient setting preferred
• Valid driver’s license
• Crisis intervention experience preferred