TECH - MH/BH (NO DEGREE)

River Vista Behavioral Health sits along the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River. This brand new, 128-bed facility will provide high-quality and advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administration. We are currently seeking a forward-thinking and compassionate MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN to be part of our Nursing Team. The Mental Health Technician functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from adolescents through geriatrics. Mental Health Technicians work under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

Education: High school diploma or GED required.

Two (2) years of related experience, with knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques, and understanding of mental illness required. Licensure: Certified Nursing Assistant preferred. Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. CPI Training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Demonstrate responsibility for observation and application of sound judgment in patients' physical and mental condition/needs. Provide continuous patient care and maintain safety of all assigned patients demonstrated by verifying patient safety every 15 minutes on appropriate forms. Observe and document changes in patients' appearance, behavior, and ability to work towards treatment plan goals. Communicate changes in patient's condition to Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager. Interventions: Ensure timely documentation of interventions and ensure interventions are based on the patient's plan of care. Apply appropriate crisis intervention techniques, as required. Assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independent functioning. Document services rendered in accordance with established criteria. Performance Accountability: Demonstrate excellent guest relations in communication and cooperation, assisting patients, licensed practitioners, co-workers, and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner. Act as a patient advocate and assures patient rights are upheld. Demonstrate understanding of and compliance with reporting and supervisory hierarchy. Attend program meetings and maintain related records. Participate in performance improvement activities as assigned (i.e. in-services, auditing). Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities. Demonstrate good judgment when making decisions. 8 Adhere to facility, department and Corporate Personnel Policies and Procedures. Attend all mandatory facility in-services and staff development activities as scheduled. Maintain confidentiality of facility employees and patient information. Conducts safety rounds to ensure no contrabands is allowed on units. Mental health technicians escort patients to meals and activities, and may escort patients to other healthcare facilities. Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Consistently follow established procedures. Treatment Planning: Provide pertinent feedback to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding patient response to didactic group offerings, treatment interventions, and therapeutic objectives, as appropriate and necessary. Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11 Maintain knowledge of the Child Program rules, protocols and handbooks guidelines. Maintain knowledge of children's stages of development and seek guidance from the nurse in charge when questions about the norms for the behavior related to child development arise. Assess patients for behaviors consistent with the developmental stages and make note of any deviations in behavior. Recognize acting out behavior of child specific age