What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Technician - PRN position at Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Leesville?
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Mental Health Technician (MHT) role is to function as a member of the nursing staff to facilitate quality patient care. The
MHT supports the licensed nursing staff to ensure the needs of the patients are met by performing routinely assigned tasks and
carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT’s training and experience. Provides direct patient care to
assigned patients ensuring that the patients activities of daily living are met. They are primarily responsible for the day to day
custodial care of the patients. The MHT assist with providing a therapeutic milieu and group assignments as directed. The
MHT utilizes a basic knowledge of psychiatric nursing skills and communicate the emotional, behavior, and psychiatric
manifestation of the patient’s psychiatric condition to the licensed nursing staff. The MHT is the visible presences of the
nursing staff on the unit and are readily available to the patients for the patient’s day to day needs. In addition, they ensure a
safe environment through diligent observation of the physical environment as well as the patient’s status. The MHT must
communicate effectively identified findings observed with the patients to the licensed nursing staff. In addition, the MHT
assist the licensed staff with basic clerical duties when indicated. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for
patient care according to facility mission, policy and procedure, and in accordance with all external regulatory and
credentialing bodies. As a key member of the nursing staff, the MHT is available to families for communication between the
families, patients, and licensed nursing staff. The MHT assist with the nutritional needs of the patients, through working with
the licensed nurses to ensure that nutritional needs are met. The MHT utilizes their knowledge of psychiatric condition and
understanding of supportive care to manage the therapeutic environment. Displays an understanding of therapeutic
communication and de-escalation techniques when required.
WORKING CONDITONS:
Work environment characteristics are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to
fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to high. The work environment
may include chemicals used for cleaning, and have dust, mist, and stream generated in housekeeping tasks. This is a
smoke-free workplace. Work requires spending approximately 75% or more of the time inside a building that offers
protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
The employee must provide documentation of a tuberculosis test during new-hire orientation and annually thereafter.
certain amount of walking and standing are often necessary to carry out job duties. Lifting/carrying may exceed
10 pounds.
with frequent interruptions. The environment alone presents a certain amount of risk servicing psychiatric patients
in acute and crisis needs
Handling
Fingering
Feeling
Talking
Hearing
Seeing
Extending the hands and arms in any direction.
Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands.
Picking, pinching, and otherwise working with the fingers primarily.
Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature or texture by
means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the fingertips.
Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear.
Obtaining impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, or other
characteristics of objects. The major visual functions are: (a) acuity – far and near; (b) depth
perception; (c) field of vision; (d) accommodation; (e) color vision.
Exposure Category: Category II (tasks involve potential for exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues.)
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:Education:License:Experience:
High School Education required. Certification as a Nurse assistant is desired but not required
None
Desired previous experience working with psychiatric, geriatric or chemical dependent cleints
Additional Requirement
The Mental Health Technician (MHT) role is to function as a member of the nursing staff to facilitate quality patient care. The
MHT supports the licensed nursing staff to ensure the needs of the patients are met by performing routinely assigned tasks and
carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT’s training and experience. Provides direct patient care to
assigned patients ensuring that the patients activities of daily living are met. They are primarily responsible for the day to day
custodial care of the patients. The MHT assist with providing a therapeutic milieu and group assignments as directed. The
MHT utilizes a basic knowledge of psychiatric nursing skills and communicate the emotional, behavior, and psychiatric
manifestation of the patient’s psychiatric condition to the licensed nursing staff. The MHT is the visible presences of the
nursing staff on the unit and are readily available to the patients for the patient’s day to day needs. In addition, they ensure a
safe environment through diligent observation of the physical environment as well as the patient’s status. The MHT must
communicate effectively identified findings observed with the patients to the licensed nursing staff. In addition, the MHT
assist the licensed staff with basic clerical duties when indicated. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for
patient care according to facility mission, policy and procedure, and in accordance with all external regulatory and
credentialing bodies. As a key member of the nursing staff, the MHT is available to families for communication between the
families, patients, and licensed nursing staff. The MHT assist with the nutritional needs of the patients, through working with
the licensed nurses to ensure that nutritional needs are met. The MHT utilizes their knowledge of psychiatric condition and
understanding of supportive care to manage the therapeutic environment. Displays an understanding of therapeutic
communication and de-escalation techniques when required.
WORKING CONDITONS:
Work environment characteristics are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the
essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to
perform essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to
fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to high. The work environment
may include chemicals used for cleaning, and have dust, mist, and stream generated in housekeeping tasks. This is a
smoke-free workplace. Work requires spending approximately 75% or more of the time inside a building that offers
protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
The employee must provide documentation of a tuberculosis test during new-hire orientation and annually thereafter.
- PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to stand on feet for moderate periods of time, standing couls be
certain amount of walking and standing are often necessary to carry out job duties. Lifting/carrying may exceed
10 pounds.
- Additional work environment characteristics may include: performing repetitive tasks/motion, and hearing alarms,
with frequent interruptions. The environment alone presents a certain amount of risk servicing psychiatric patients
in acute and crisis needs
- The position also requires:
Handling
Fingering
Feeling
Talking
Hearing
Seeing
Extending the hands and arms in any direction.
Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands.
Picking, pinching, and otherwise working with the fingers primarily.
Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature or texture by
means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the fingertips.
Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear.
Obtaining impressions through the eyes of the shape, size, distance, motion, or other
characteristics of objects. The major visual functions are: (a) acuity – far and near; (b) depth
perception; (c) field of vision; (d) accommodation; (e) color vision.
Exposure Category: Category II (tasks involve potential for exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues.)
PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:Education:License:Experience:
High School Education required. Certification as a Nurse assistant is desired but not required
None
Desired previous experience working with psychiatric, geriatric or chemical dependent cleints
Additional Requirement
- Effective verbal communication skills
- Effective organizational skills
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Analytical problem solving skills
- Ability to read and comprehend written instructions; ability to follow verbal instructions
- Proficient knowledge of PC computers
- Basic understanding of DSM V diagnostic criteria
- Basic understanding of medical and psychiatric diagnoses and conditions
- Photo ID
- Social Security Card/Driver’s License
- Primary Source Verification of education
- Copy of clinical license if applicable
- CPR
- Behavioral Management Training