Mental Health Technician PRN

Houston Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is currently recruiting for Per Diem Mental Health Technicians. Shifts are from 7pm-7:30am and 7pm-7:30am, with rotating weekends.

HBHH is seeking MHT's to deliver quality psychiatric care to patients who are hospitalized with psychiatric/emotional disorders. To provide direct patient care to all patients with emotional or psychiatric disorders; to support the therapeutic milieu; to ensure the safety and well-being of these patients.

Duties:

• Serves as a role model for all Mental Health Technicians and provides on the job training to newly hired staff.
• Orients patients to the unit, takes admission vital signs and records on the Nursing Assessment Form.
• Escorts patients when leaving the unit for activities, visitation, meals and scheduled tests. Always performs a count prior to moving patients, comparing and assuring rounds sheets are with the patients.
• Participate in maintaining the therapeutic milieu on the unit, enforces the level system or other methods of behavior management.
• Able to assist with restraint (physical hold) of a patient, placing a patient in seclusion under the direction of the RN and utilizing SAMA techniques and adherence to policy and procedures.
• Assists patients in carrying out activities of daily living, when congruent with the patients' treatment plan and needs, age, and developmental level.
• Safety rounds will be completed on time and patient will be visualized by the MHT with Visible hand. This includes entering all rooms, observing the rise and fall of the chest a minimum of 3 times if sleeping.
• Performs handoff with the on-going and off-going shifts. Both physically rounding together and assuring patient location and safety. Both will initial the round sheet for that time.
• Upholds the organization's ethics and customer service standards. Performs related duties, as requested.

Requirements

Must be 18 years or older and have High School graduate or equivalent.

Experience: 2 years of previous experience as a mental health technician,

High school level reading and writing skills; acceptable oral and written communication skills; legible handwriting; ability to maintain information as highly confidential.

Telephone etiquette and customer service skills by phone and face-to-face; familiarity with medical and psychological terminology preferred.

Skills in dealing courteously with the public and other staff within the organization; basic knowledge of human behavior or principles of psychology useful; skills in prioritizing and in managing time.

Problem-solving skills; use of appropriate social skills, including demonstration and respect for staff and patients; empathy toward patients.

Customer Service skills include communication, empathy and patience. Positive customer service helps build customer loyalty.