Mental Health Technician

Job description

Your job is more than a job. Why a Great Place to Work At LCMC Health we help you to lean into your calling by leaning in with you, ensuring you have the resources to do your job as only you can. And that begins with receiving the support you need to thrive and grow, which looks different for each person. Living out our commitment to inclusion requires providing benefits that are as diverse and unique as our workforce. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. Because we don’t just serve the New Orleans community—we’re at the beating heart of it. Whether by offering community health services or making medical innovations more accessible, LCMC Health is bringing a culture of wellness to the communities that matter to you. When you know you’re making an authentic impact, you give a little extra to every day— as a person, with your team, in your community—and that’s one of the reasons why you’ll be a perfect fit at LCMC Health, where giving a little something extra is at the heart of everything we do. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this department. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities, and LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. GENERAL DUTIES Milieu Management/Safety: Assists in maintaining a safe and therapeutic milieu by monitoring compliance with program rules and providing assistance with security and supportive manpower by assisting in control of patients. Constantly monitors the facility for hazards or harmful items in the environment. Reports any safety issues to nursing staff. Constantly monitors patients in the facility according to precautions and completes patient observation sheets on assigned patients. Assists nurses with patient care tasks and other duties assigned. Ensure the room is safe by completing the room readiness checklist. Keeps patient room neat and orderly. Evaluates patient’s environment for possible hazards and removes those hazards. Reports defective equipment to the nurse. Group Management: Conducts group sessions with and without a preset agenda and format in the absence of social workers or expressive therapists (i.e.: community group and activity therapy). Actively employs therapeutically acceptable sensitivity and skills in managing inappropriate patient behavior, difficult people, and complex situations. Actively reassesses safety and precautions prior, during and post group sessions. Documentation: Documents significant occurences, observed behaviors, I&O (if ordered), and observation findings in patient charts and reports to nurse. Reports all hazards and accidents to nurse. Performs clerical duties related to support of unit activities as assigned, and assists with admission of patients, obtaining weights and vital signs (when not the first vital signs of the shift), logging in patient belongings, and specimen collection. Communication: Communicates in a courteous and polite manner, responds with appropriate verbal and non verbal expressions. Offers assistance to visitors and other employees of the hospital as needed. Maintains a calm, poised attitude and composure in stressful and demanding environments. During communication adheres to all privacy laws and hospital policies regarding patient confidentiality. Demonstrates clear written and verbal communication skills. Professionalism/Collaboration: Demonstrates willingness to learn new tasks. Recognizes, participates and adjusts to changing situations and work assignments. Demonstrates good organization skills and effective time management. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to deliver patient care and or other tasks as necessary. Patient Observation: Provides constant observation and monitoring of assigned patients to ensure safety and prevention of injury. Obtains hand-off from the off going staff member to include information regarding the patient’s identified care needs, diagnosis, visual, auditory or language barriers, as well as any special considerations and behaviors to monitor (NPO, bed alarms, etc.). Courteously greets patient, identifies self, and explains purpose. Positions self to maintain constant visual observation of the patient. Never leaves the patient alone or out of sight unless specifically instructed by the nurse. Obtains instruction from nurse regarding ambulation limitations and course of action for redirection of patient if needed. Observes patient’s activity and behavior and communicates on a regular basis to the nurse. Immediately notifies the nurse if patient displays suicidal/self-destructive behaviors, attempt to escape or has a change in status. Provides for patient comfort, safety and satisfaction.Maintains patient environment in a safe and orderly manner. Promptly calls for assistance as needed. Notifies RN if tubes, IV, catheter, etc. become disconnected. Gives hand-off to the oncoming staff member.​ EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree of Psychology, Allied Health or related field; Bachelor's degree requirement may be waived for individuals with > 10 years' experience working in an inpatient behavioral/mental health facility. EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS Preferred 3 years of experience on a psychiatric unit or in another health care setting. LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS BLS CPI (recommended during orientation period) WORK SHIFT: Variable Hours (United States of America) LCMC Health is a community. Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little “come on in” attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health’s culture of everyday extraordinary Children’s Hospital, at the heart of LCMC Health’s incredible community of care, has been the go-to hospital for expert children’s health, wellness, and one-of-a-kind care in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Learn more about Children’s Hospital’s 40+ specialties and our national ranking by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Children's Hospital Your extras Deliver healthcare with heart. Give people a reason to smile. Put a little love in your work. Be honest and real, but with compassion. Bring some lagniappe into everything you do. Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of-a-kind care. See opportunities, not problems – it’s all about perspective. Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other. Love what makes you, you - because we do You are welcome here. LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Simple things make the difference. 1. To get started, take your time to fully and accurately complete the application for employment. Incomplete applications get bogged down and are often eliminated due to missing information. 2. To ensure quality care and service, we may use information on your application to verify your previous employment and background. 3. To keep our career applications up-to-date, applications are inactive after 6 months and, therefore, require a new application for employment to be completed. 4. To expedite the hiring process, proof of citizenship or immigration status will be required to verify your lawful right to work in the United States.