What are the responsibilities and job description for the Transportation Tech position at Freedom Behavioral?
Job Summary
Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Greenville is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and safety-focused Transportation Technician/Mental Health Technician (MHT) to support both our inpatient hospital and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). This dual-role position is responsible for safely transporting patients to and from the facility, appointments, and designated locations while also providing direct patient care and support within the therapeutic environment. The Transportation Technician/MHT serves as an important member of the treatment team by ensuring patient safety, assisting with activities of daily living, monitoring patient behaviors, facilitating therapeutic activities, and maintaining a positive patient experience.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Transportation Duties
Education
Freedom Behavioral provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, and training.
Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Greenville is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and safety-focused Transportation Technician/Mental Health Technician (MHT) to support both our inpatient hospital and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). This dual-role position is responsible for safely transporting patients to and from the facility, appointments, and designated locations while also providing direct patient care and support within the therapeutic environment. The Transportation Technician/MHT serves as an important member of the treatment team by ensuring patient safety, assisting with activities of daily living, monitoring patient behaviors, facilitating therapeutic activities, and maintaining a positive patient experience.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Transportation Duties
- Safely transport patients to and from the hospital, IOP program, appointments, and approved community activities.
- Operate hospital vehicles in accordance with all traffic laws and facility policies.
- Conduct pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections and report maintenance concerns promptly.
- Maintain accurate transportation logs and documentation.
- Ensure patient safety during transport and provide appropriate supervision.
- Assist patients entering and exiting vehicles as needed.
- Communicate any patient concerns, incidents, behavioral changes, or safety issues to nursing staff immediately.
- Assist with meal pickup, supply transport, and other transportation-related duties as assigned.
- Monitor patients and enforce unit and program rules.
- Perform safety rounds, contraband checks, and environmental rounds.
- Complete close observation, line-of-sight, and one-to-one patient monitoring as assigned.
- Assist with patient admissions, discharges, and belongings inventories.
- Obtain and document vital signs as directed.
- Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), including hygiene, feeding, grooming, showers, oral care, and linen changes.
- Assist with therapeutic, educational, recreational, and group activities.
- Utilize therapeutic communication and approved de-escalation techniques.
- Observe and report changes in patient behavior, mood, or condition to licensed nursing staff.
- Help maintain a safe, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environment.
- Support nursing staff with clerical and patient care tasks as assigned.
- Demonstrate professionalism, compassion, and respect toward patients, families, visitors, and coworkers.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policies.
- Follow all infection control, safety, and regulatory requirements.
- Attend required trainings, meetings, and competency assessments.
- Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.
Education
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Previous experience in behavioral health, psychiatric care, healthcare, transportation services, security, social services, or related field preferred.
- Experience transporting patients or operating passenger vans preferred.
- Valid Driver's License with acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) required.
- CPR Certification required (or obtained within orientation period).
- Behavioral Management/CPI Certification required (or obtained within orientation period).
- CNA certification preferred but not required.
- Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to remain calm during crisis situations.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to safely supervise psychiatric patients.
- Basic computer skills.
- Knowledge of behavioral health and psychiatric patient care preferred.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, push, pull, and assist patients throughout the workday.
- Ability to operate hospital vehicles safely.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
- Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations and patient behavioral crises.
Freedom Behavioral provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, and training.