Resident Treatment Technician Part-time

State of Iowa; Cherokee (IA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Dental Insurance

Retirement Investors Club (RIC)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Holidays

Job summary

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI) is seeking a part-time Resident Treatment Technician (RTT) to join the Cherokee campus. RTT will learn RTW tasks, assist with cross-training, and supervise RTW staff under RN leadership to maintain a calm, therapeutic milieu.

Responsibilities include escorting patients, safety checks, and contributing to a safe hospital environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or coordinating staff in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, and team members.
• Skill in applying de-escalation techniques in high-stress situations.
• Understanding of safety protocols in inpatient care environments.

Responsibilities

• Escort patients off wards for meals and appointments as needed.
• Direct, assign, and delegate tasks to RTW staff under RN supervision.
• Support nurse supervisors with staff communication and cross-training.
• Participate in safety checks, fire alarms, ward safety, and incident response.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

De-escalation

Safety awareness

Job description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau ofCherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI) is seeking a Resident Treatment Technician to join our team!This is a part-time position with a variable, 28-hour per week schedule and opportunity for growth, development, and advancement.

The Resident Treatment Technician (RTT) role is an active leadership position for the Resident Treatment team. RTTs will learn the Resident Treatment Worker (RTW) role, which provides direct nursing care to patients, then assist with cross‑training and orientation of RTW personnel. The RTT facilitates fluid staff communication and effectively directs, assigns, and delegates tasks to RTW staff as directed by a Registered Nurse and/or Nurse Supervisor. Resident Treatment team responsibilities include escorting patients off the ward as needed for meals, medical appointments, recreation, and other activities within the institution. Specialized duties and other responsibilities covering a variety of practical tasks essential for operation of the unit to maintain an efficient, clean, and safe environment for patients and staff may be assigned. RTTs also respond to campus fire alarms, perform ward searches, and conduct other safety checks. A Resident Treatment staff member performs essential safety functions including but not limited to being present on and observing the patient wards, monitoring the tone and milieu of each area to assist in maintaining a calm and therapeutic environment, identifying potential situations that need to be addressed, utilizing de‑escalation techniques as needed, and participating in emergency codes. The RTT is a role model for patients and is expected to exhibit respectable skills in language, behavior, attitude, and personal interactions. In addition, this position works with the Nursing/Staff Development Department to schedule and teach hospital‑wide trainings

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

CMHI provides active inpatient treatment to adults in need of acute psychiatric care. The facility offers several services includingindividualized treatment plans. Support for patients with special education needs to continue their education is provided, andindividuals areencouraged to collaborate with staff members in formulating their own plan. Medication, group counseling, and activities therapies might be included as well. For more CMHI info: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/cherokee-mental-health-institute

Benefits of Joining CMHI

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well‑being and professional growth.

• Health and Dental Insurance


• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan)


• Flexible Spending Accounts


• Vacation Leave


• Sick Leave


• Holidays

For additional information on benefits click here.

Cherokee Highlights

CMHI is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River which winds through town providing a backdrop to a well‑developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60‑member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Experience equal to eighteen months of full time work as a nursing or therapeutic assistant in a health care facility or other facility for the intellectually disabled, mentally ill, elderly, physically ill or disabled; OR any equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of post high school education (thirty semester hours or equivalent academic units) with an emphasis in nursing and/or the social or behavioral sciences for one year of experience to a maximum substitution of one year.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.