Psychiatric Technician, PRN- Psych Tech YRT

Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Utah Health is seeking a dedicated Psychiatric Technician for the HMHI Youth Residential Treatment unit in Salt Lake City. The role provides a safe, supportive environment for psychiatric patients and assists with basic care needs, admissions, and patient activities.

The position emphasizes teamwork within an interdisciplinary treatment team, coordination of care plans, and participation in training and quality assurance programs. PRN schedule and on-site responsibilities apply.

Qualifications

• Six months of behavioral health or direct patient care experience.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to respond to crises and assist with restraints and seclusion.
• Ability to work with diverse patient populations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, hazard-free environment by observing and documenting patient behavior and reporting unsafe conditions.
• Assist with admission of new patients, including routine nursing assessments and contraband checks.
• Orient patients and families to facility policies and procedures.
• Escort patients to off-unit appointments using therapeutic interventions to ensure safety.
• Provide a therapeutic milieu by encouraging participation in recreational activities and group therapies.
• Lead activity and conversation groups, and participate in treatment planning and discharge planning.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Group dynamics

Observation & documentation

Interpersonal skills

Age-appropriate care

Restraints & seclusion

Multilingual

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/

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 contracts.
• May function as a preceptor to new Psychiatric Technicians and assists level staff.
• Assists with the unit's training and quality assurance programs. Provides an annual educational in-service to co-workers.
• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• 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.

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 100 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, Non Indicated, 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.

Requisition Number 86379
Reg/Temp Regular
Employment Type PRN
Shift Variable
Work Schedule PRN
Location Name HMHI Youth Residential Treatment (YRT)
Workplace Set Up On-site
City Salt Lake City
State UT
Department HMH IPC 93F YRT
Category Social Services
Workplace Set Up On-site