Crisis Care Center Mental Health Technician

Mental Health Technician

Normal Work Hours/Days: 7:00pm-7:30am (3-12 hour shifts weekly which includes every other weekend)

Location: Crisis Care Center

The Crisis Care Center is designed to provide crisis stabilization to individuals experiencing a behavioral health and/or substance use crisis and reduce pressure on law enforcement and local emergency departments. Once the crisis has been resolved and the individual has been stabilized, they will be linked with a community mental health provider for ongoing services. This position provides individual care, support, skills instruction, and supervision to clients in the Crisis Care Center. This employee serves in the role of direct caregiver to individuals admitted to the temporary and/or extended observation beds at the Crisis Care Center, working directly with the Crisis Center Director, nursing staff, psychiatrist, CRNPs, peers, and clinical support team, as well as other staff on duty.

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Assist in the admission and discharge process, including obtaining vital signs, safety search of individual and his/her personal belongings, as well as orienting new individuals to the unit.
• Provides direct care to the clients of the Crisis Care Center in a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented manner.
• Monitors, supports, supervises, and provides training to clients in daily/independent living skills and coping skills.
• Monitor the individual’s physical and emotional wellbeing and report unusual behavior or physical complaints to the direct supervisor (RN Clinical Leader for the shift).
• Obtain the individual’s physical condition/vital signs at designated times during the shift and as directed by LPN, RN, MD, and/or APRN.
• Assist individuals by providing ADLs supplies such as towels, wash cloths, soap, and keeping beds, clothing, and living areas clean.
• Responsible for the implementation of scheduled day activities such as exercise, socialization, groups, community meetings, personal goal setting, illness management, and coping skills development as appropriate.
• Chart observations, following prescribed procedures and standards (q15s/monitoring hallways, etc.) and document vitals in Avatar.
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations that may involve physical intervention, including the use of seclusion/restraint.
• Assist in prevention and managing crisis situations.
• Works directly with the Crisis Center Director, nursing staff, psychiatrist, CRNPs, peers, and clinical support team.
• Provides support services for the Crisis Care Center and the clients.
• Transports clients when needed using the agency vehicle.
• Completes required administrative and client-related paperwork.
• Other duties or tasks as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED - Entry Level Position.
• Valid Alabama driver's license and driving record acceptable to agency automobile insurance carrier for inclusion on agency policy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of mental illness and substance use disorders, as well as their social implications.
• Willingness to work with individuals in a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and supportive fashion.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to identify problem situations of client care and treatment and build rapport with individuals.
• Ability to use a computer for client record keeping and able to perform basic navigation functions in an electronic medical record.
• Trained in or willing to be trained in crisis intervention, specifically Therapeutic Options.