Mental Health Technician (MHT)

The Mental Health Technician provides direct patient care to all patients with emotional or psychiatric disorders; supports a therapeutic setting; ensures safety and well-being of patients. Carries out general nursing assistance necessary to treatment of adolescent, adult, or older adult patients as assigned.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participates in treatment planning:

Assists in identifying patients' problems, needs, and strengths;
Suggests modifications to treatment plan based on observations of patients' behavior;
Provides input into discharge planning.

Participates in implementing patients' treatment plans:

Monitors patients' progress;
Performs patient safety checks at scheduled times and documents appropriately;
Communicates information regarding patients' behavior to other members of treatment team;
Maintains communication with patient, family members, and referral sources in patients' interest;
Co-facilitates didactic, educational, and community groups within the context of the adolescent and adult treatment programs;
Encourages and facilitates patients' participation in therapeutic activities;
Supervises patients to ensure their safety and their involvement in treatment;
Provides input during shift report.

Accompanies and transports patients as assigned.
Orients new patients to unit, program, and setting.
Assists patients in carrying out activities of daily living, when congruent with the patients' treatment plan and needs, age, and developmental level.
Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for patients.
Participates in maintaining the therapeutic setting on the unit, enforces the CPI system or other methods of behavior management.
Maintains patient, program, department, and related documentation.
Carries out clerical and administrative assignment to support patient care and department and organization operations.
Completes orientation and competency assessments as required for position.
Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital.

Requirements

Education/Licensure

High school diploma or equivalent required
Current CPR certificate
CPI obtained within 60 days of hire

Knowledge and Experience:

Familiarity with medical and psychological terminology and human behavior principles preferred
Experience with therapeutic limit-setting or other behavior management modalities helpful
Must maintain professional boundaries

Skills and Abilities:

Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times
Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds
Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, and Excel)
Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize projects, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines
Strong written and verbal communication skills; legible handwriting
Skills in teaching or assisting with activities of daily living
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Good judgment, problem solving and decision-making skills
Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively as well as possessing the skills to lead, influence, and motivate others
Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding environment
Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations
Ability to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation, a foot traffic
Ability to handle interruptions and multi-task

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

Stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and stand for sustained period of time.
Walk, push, pull, lift, carry objects from a lower to higher position or horizontally from position to position or otherwise move objects.
Feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
Express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly.
Minimum standard of hearing ranges.
Lift up to 50 pounds, exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently.
Minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction.
While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.

Benefits

We proudly offer the following benefits available 1st of the month following just one month of employment: