Lead Psychiatric Technician

Division: Clinical Services - Medical
Department: Inpatient Services
Supervised By: Director of Nursing
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Regular/Full-Time or Relief
Effective Date: February 2010

Ninety percent of time is direct patient care, interacting with the patient, either individually or in a group setting. Serve as a role model to other psychiatric technicians in providing direct patient care. Assist the Director of Nursing in the training and coaching of psychiatric technicians. The rest of the time will consist of documentation and running errands.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interact routinely with patients, observe behaviors and communicate significant observations to nursing staff.
• Document information regarding patient care and behavior as required in policy and procedure.
• Attend to physical needs of patients, such as assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and if necessary feeding and mobility.
• Run errands related to patient care and unit needs.
• Supervise patients in special care areas as assigned.
• Participate in patient treatment planning and implementation under the direction of nursing staff and other professional staff involved in patient care.
• Participate in maintenance of a clean, orderly and safe environment; report needs for repairs and maintenance to appropriate staff.
• Act as a role model for other psychiatric technicians in maintenance of a clean, orderly, and safe environment; report needs for repairs and maintenance to appropriate staff.
• Obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned and document in patient record.
• Assist nursing staff in responding to emergency situations.
• Conduct and assist with selected activity groups as assigned and document according to policy and procedures.
• Attend and participate in IPS in-services and staff meetings. Must be excused from mandatory inservices and meetings by the Director of Nursing.
• Assist with assessments as assigned.
• Ability to demonstrate competent use of Profiler.
• Monitor and document nutritional intake.
• Participate in implementation of unit therapeutic programming.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with established IPS policy, procedures and standards of care.
• Complete Psychiatric Technician schedule for specific shift and coordinate with other shifts.
• Ensure groups are assigned and carried out as assigned.
• Assist in interviewing potential candidate for Psychiatric Technician positions.
• Participates in new and ongoing training of psychiatric technicians.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Nursing and in his/her absence, the Inpatient/Access Director.
  

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Knowledge and skills in English usage, interpersonal relationships, basic behavior management.
• Basic knowledge of human behavior or general mental health concepts, independent living skills (personal grooming, basic nutrition, and general health needs).

• Maintain current CPI and American Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification.
  

The physical demands described here 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 the essential functions

• Exposure to disturbed and potentially aggressive patients is possible. Stress ranges from low to intense depending on situation.
• Physical strength necessary to implement CPI interventions.
• Sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending, stooping as required to assist in patient care.
  

Environment is a hospital-like atmosphere with access to an outside patio. May have to help bathe and feed patients. Non-smoking work environment.

• Completion of tuberculin screening no later than three days prior to first day of employment and annually thereafter
• Completion of a pre-employment drug screening and completion of post-employment drug or alcohol tests upon reasonable suspicion of use.
• Completion of Center-wide orientation and ALL required paperwork prior to reporting for work
• Demonstrated computer literacy through successful completion of pre-employment testing may be required.
• Completion of HCI Quality training
• Attendance at all mandatory staff development and training
• Successful completion of a six month on the job orientation period
• Participation in payroll electronic deposit
• Adherence to Compliance Program Plan
• Satisfactory reference and background investigation checks.

Job descriptions are not intended, and should not be construed, to be exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. They are meant to be accurate reflections of the principal job elements essential for making fair pay decisions about jobs.

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