Psychiatric Technician, Advanced

University of Utah Health; South Salt Lake (UT); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Utah Health is seeking a part-time Psychiatric Support staff member to provide a safe, therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients at the South Salt Lake facility. The role involves assisting with admissions, patient orientation, and coordinating with nurses to support patient care plans.

The position requires an Associate degree or two years of behavioral health experience, with a focus on teamwork, observation, and crisis response.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or two years of behavioral health or direct patient care experience.
• Ability to provide safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients.

Responsibilities

• Assist with maintaining a safe environment and document patient behavior.
• Assist with admission procedures and patient belongings checks.
• Orient patients and families to facility policies and procedures.
• Escort patients to off-unit appointments and activities.
• Support therapeutic activities and group therapies.
• Participate in patient care team conferences and discharge planning.

Education

Associate degree

Two years of behavioral health or direct patient care experience

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.

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 functions 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

• An Associate degree OR Two years 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)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• 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, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Walking

Multi-lingual Candidates Welcomed

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 Affir­mative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

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.

Requisition Number

85186
Regular
Part-Time
Night
SAT/SUN 1900-0730
Clinical
Kem And Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center
On-site
South Salt Lake
UT
HMH ENT 93J RECEIVING CENTER
Social Services
On-site