Senior Psychiatric Technician (#RH2502)
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$31.37-$38.13 Hourly / $5,437.30-$6,609.07 Monthly / $65,247.63-$79,308.90 Yearly

Under general supervision, participates in skilled paraprofessional psychiatric nursing services in the care and treatment of mentally or emotionally disturbed patients; and does related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

This is the journey level class in the Psychiatric Technician series. An employee in this class is responsible for participating as a member of a treatment team providing skilled physical and psychiatric care for Mental Health patients in a variety of treatment programs. Incumbents may serve as shift manager in the absence of the Chief Psychiatric Technician. This class is distinguished from the class of Chief Psychiatric Technician in that incumbents of the latter class are less involved in providing patient services and are primarily involved in shift supervision and planning.

• Participates as a member of a treatment team in developing and implementing individual and group treatment programs for patients.
• Develops, supervises and encourages participation in group and individual program activities for patients; assists therapist in therapy programs; may lead therapy groups.
• Observes patient's physical condition and behavior; audits patient's clinical record charts; checks and corrects errors; monitors patient activities; evaluates patient progress; reports significant changes to professional staff; records clinical notes on patients.
• Assists patients with feeding, habit training; keeps living areas clean; protects patients from personal injury; motivates patients to develop self-reliance in daily living.
• Monitors and administers medications and treatment, including hypodermic injections, catheterizations, enemas and oral medications; takes and charts temperatures, pulse and respiration; assists families and care providers in monitoring and administering medications.
• Consults with families, care providers, staff of convalescent hospitals and other agencies as liaison to provide for continuity of care; assists care providers and others in handling patient behavior.
• Admits and orients patients to inpatient facilities; dispenses medication for new patients; acts as Court liaison through admission process; may act as shift supervisor.
• Orders supplies, keeps records, and prepares reports.
• Participates in in-service training programs.

License:  Possession of a valid license as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician examiners of the State of California.

Experience: Two years of experience performing the duties of a psychiatric technician or mental health technician in a mental health facility.

Special Requirement:  The Psychiatric Health Facility will perform a background investigation on prospective employees to include criminal background information from State and Federal information banks.

Basic concepts of mental illness and mental health; the physical, emotional and social needs of emotionally disordered individuals; fundamentals of psychiatric terminology; principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individual or groups of mentally ill, or emotionally disturbed patients.

Train others in the performance of their duties in a mental health unit; apply routine psychiatric nursing care to mentally ill or emotionally disturbed patients; recognize symptoms indicative of adverse patient reactions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; participate in treatment programs for patients; understand and follow written and oral directions; express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Mobility-Occasional operation of computers, sitting for long periods of time and driving; frequent walking, pushing/pulling and bending/squatting; Lifting-Ability to constantly lift 5 pounds or less and frequently up to 70 pounds; Vision-Constant overall vision, color/depth and eye hand coordination and peripheral vision; frequent reading and close-up work; Dexterity-Constant repetitive motion, writing, holding, reaching, grasping and writing; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing normal speech, talking in person, talking on the telephone/radio; Emotional/Special Conditions-Constant decision making, public contact, concentration, working weekends/nights or overtime, exposure to trauma, grief and death; frequent working alone; Environment Conditions-Constant exposure to noise, dirt, dust, smoke, fumes, poor ventilation, cold, heat and hazardous materials; Special Requirement-Constant exposure to assaultive behavior.