Mental Health Technician

Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital

Address: 1695 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136

Shift Details: Full-Time | Days & Nights | 12 Hour Shift 3/3 Work Schedule

Summary

The Mental Health Specialist (MHS) is a member of the care team whose job duties support the delivery of a single standard of care, under the supervision of a registered nurse, for mentally ill patients in the patient care treatment facility.

Responsibilities

• Performs patient care observations and duties as directed by the RN and outlined in the hospital's policies and procedures.
• Manage patient activities and provide patient education.
• Assist with maintaining a therapeutic milieu in accordance with policy.
• Supervise patient activities in the milieu and respond/intervene per protocol.
• Utilize verbal de-escalation techniques and coping strategies to help reduce the risk of patients' disruptive and aggressive behavior.
• Identify behaviors that may require seclusion, restraint, or other clinical intervention, and escalate to the primary nurse or nurse leader.
• Participate in the restraint and seclusion of patients according to hospital policy and procedures.
• Escort and monitor patients during fresh air breaks.
• Perform a variety of tasks associated with generalized patient care including, vital signs, feeding, mobility, personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, bed making/linen changes, assists the health care team with preparing supplies, and sets up/or remove equipment.
• Utilizes specialized equipment as needed when providing patient care (glucometer, restraints etc.).
• Assists, as needed, in the preparation of patient treatment areas between patient use (seclusion room, quiet room), etc.
• Perform ongoing observations of patients and documents their status in the electronic observation record.
• Report unusual findings to the primary nurse or the nurse leader.
• Maintains accurate precautionary monitoring (suicidal, violence, and elopement) q. 15 minutes; reports and records patient's physical and emotional whereabouts, activity, and behavior.
• Responsibly monitors patients in recreational therapies, psychotherapy, and education programs; and documents significant behaviors.
• Engage patients in daily activities, including group facilitation. In JBHH, assume responsibility for proper handling of patient's clothing and property at the time of admission, transfer, and discharge; and completes necessary documentation.
• Assist in the fabrication of adaptive and assistive equipment, i.e. washing mitts, wheelchair gloves, safety belts, straps, etc.
• Maintain the storage closet and ensure therapeutic activity materials are available.
• Follows up on patient care responsibilities and assignments left from previous shifts and reports any incomplete assignments to ensure continuity of procedures.
• Assists with orientation of new employees, as needed.
• Engages in culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate interventions in order to work with patients from a variety of backgrounds and diverse populations.
• Demonstrates behaviors of service excellence and CARE values (Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Expertise).
• Performs all other related job duties as assigned.

Experience

• Generally requires 0 to 3 years of related experience.

Education

• High School diploma is required.

Credentials

• Valid Florida Behavioral Health Technician Certification preferred.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)and any additional applicable life support certification for Healthcare Providers is required upon hire with at least 6 months validity and maintenance at JHS for the duration of employment.

Unit Specific Credential

• FL-BLS