Mental Health Technician- Psych/Rehab Unit @ Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (DAYS)

Responsibilities:

• Assists with and de-escalates agitated or aggressive patients, may involve use of restraint and seclusion.
• Performs room safety checks for suicide precautions.
• Completes rounding for safety on each patient every fifteen minutes with appropriate documentation.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living as assigned.
• Monitor vital signs, completes EKG as ordered.
• Assists with supporting group activities.

Credentials:

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)
• CPR certification required

Education or Equivalent:

• Bachelor of Arts or Science (Required)
• from an accredited program in an area of human services, which includes, but may not be limited to the following: sociology, political science, counseling, criminal justice, pastoral counseling, elementary/special education of family therapy. Prior behavioral health experience preferred but not required. Certified Nursing Assistant Certification preferred

OR

• H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)
• plus two (2) years direct care experience in human service field involving direct contact with the individual receiving services. OR Completion of 12 credits in an accredited program in an area of human services or nursing. At minimum the program must be an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, medical assistant, LPN or nursing program. If the MHT IS currently enrolled in a school program, employment may be based on an internship or placement through the individual’s undergraduate program once 12 credits have been completed. No experience requirement. Plus increased supervision provided by a clinical supervisor or by a peer with at least one year of experience with the provider. Individual supervision must be conducted for at least one hour per week for full-time staff or one half-hour per week for staff working less than 20 hours per week, for at least the first six months. Regular supervision to be decided by the provider must be ongoing beyond this period. In addition, the provider must implement an individualized training plan.

Additional Information

The inpatient, acute, psychiatric unit on Wright 5 provides short-term psychiatric management for admitted patients who are experiencing an acute mental disorder or an acute exacerbation of a chronic psychiatric disorder, and may/may not have a secondary substance use disorder. Care is offered to all persons, voluntary and involuntary, regardless of race, religion, natural origin, creed, sex or ability to pay. The department of psychiatry is committed to providing treatment and support in the least restrictive setting possible. Wright 5 is a locked, (twenty-two bed) acute care services unit which admits adults on a voluntary or involuntary commitment status. A therapeutic milieu is maintained through group activities, interactions within the patient community, staff interactions, and emphasis on each person’s responsibility for self. The overall goal of the unit is to provide a therapeutic milieu for acutely ill patients and to restore them to their optimal level of functioning in the community. It is recognized that psychiatric services are part of a continuum of professional services connected with other community resources. Effective communication and cooperation with these resources are facilitated and maintained. Emphasis is placed on maintaining continuity of care at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Community Mental Health Centers and Psychiatric Emergency Services in order to facilitate timely discharge. Care is provided 24 hours a day.

The Inpatient Substance Use Treatment Unit was established to provide evidence based care for patients with substance use disorders. The program, which operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, provides treatment services to adults age 18 years to 64 years, who are ambulatory, and may have a co-occurring medical and/or psychiatric impairment that does not prevent their participation in the groups and activities on the unit. The length of stay is short-term and the focus of treatment addresses detoxification and rehabilitation issues that precipitated the patient's admission.