ADMHS Psychiatric Technician I and II
Salary: ADMHS Psychiatric Technician I (#5210)
$18.40-$22.46 hourly / $3,200-$3,907 monthly / Range: 5172
ADMHS Psychiatric Technician II (#5211)
$20.64-$25.19 hourly / $3,589-$4,382 monthly / Range: 5402
DEFINITION: Under direction, provides nursing care to
mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; participates in an
overall psychiatric treatment program; and performs related duties
as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The duties of the Mental
Health Technician I/II are essentially the same; the difference is
that the Mental Health Technician II has more fully developed skills
and is required to act with more independence in the promotion and
utilization of effective mental health techniques in providing care
for patients.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
- Performs a basic level of psychiatric nursing care by
assisting in the coordination of services, including assessment,
planning, monitoring, documenting, and evaluating services
provided as well as by giving personal care to patients, escorting
patients, and providing other patient care;
- Identifies the personal needs of patients; implements nursing
care to individual patients by providing professional nursing
assistance, such as taking and charting vital signs and
administering medications, treatments, and enemas;
- Observes and records patient’s condition and behavior and
reports significant changes to the appropriate authority; observes
a variety of clinical problems and handles the less complex
matters within the limits of knowledge and authority;
- Under supervision of the appropriate professional staff,
provides crisis intervention and provides a behavioral role model
for patients by using effective mental health techniques;
- cts as a liaison between patient, family, other staff, and
other agencies; initiates and holds consultations and family
conferences;
- Takes admitting psychiatric histories and assists in ongoing
treatment, discharge planning and placement of patients; may make
home visits; provides services to board and care facilities
housing mentally ill patients and provides appropriate after-care
services to patients discharged from a psychiatric hospital;
- Assists in the collection of research data; gives information
regarding departmental services to patients, relatives, other
agencies, and the public;
- At the Mental Health Tech II level, may serve as a trainer,
consultant, and resource for other staff in methods of patient
care, department policies and procedures, and specialized
practices such as Managing Assaultive Behavior.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Mental Health Technician I
- Possession of a valid license as a Psychiatric Technician
issued by the State of California; or,
- possession of a valid license as a Vocational Nurse issued by
the State of California and one year of nursing experience in a
psychiatric facility or community mental health program; or,
- a combination of training, education, and experience that is
equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and
that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and license.
Mental Health Technician II
- Possession of a valid license as a Psychiatric Technician
issued by the State of California and one year of
experience as a Psychiatric Technician in a psychiatric facility
or a community mental health program; or,
- possession of a valid license as a Vocational Nurse issued by
the State of California and two years of nursing experience in a
psychiatric facility or a community mental health program; or,
- one year of experience performing duties equivalent to the
class of Mental Health Technician I with Santa Barbara County; or,
- a combination of training, education, and experience that is
equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and
that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and license.
Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid
California Class C Driver’s License may be required.
Knowledge of: the fundamentals of nursing care, crisis
intervention techniques, patient behavior, and mental hygiene
principles and procedures involved in the assessment, care,
counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation of emotionally disturbed
and mentally ill patients; current first aid methods; medical and
psychiatric terminology; pharmacology, including typical reactions
and responses to psychotropic drugs and common medications as well
as their possible side effects.
Ability to: provide basic psychiatric nursing care to
emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients; learn and apply
effective mental health techniques for communicating with persons
with mental disorders; understand, interpret, and apply relevant
laws and regulations; establish effective working relationships with
patients, their families, colleagues, community representatives, and
other county staff members; recognize and respect limits of
authority and responsibility; keep accurate records and follow oral
and written directions. |
