Psychiatric Technician
Location: North Chicago, IL
Company: Decypher
Job Description Apply Now
Join Decypher and make a direct impact on the health and readiness of America’s service members, veterans, and their families. Since 2008 Decypher has offered healthcare industry professionals careers where their expertise is valued, and their work makes a meaningful impact. Decypher partners with the Defense Health Agency to deliver professional services, technology, and management solutions. Our mission is to provide and support quality care for our veterans, servicemembers and their families, across the United States.
Job Summary: The Mental Health Technician provides clinical and administrative support within an outpatient psychiatric setting, assisting with patient screening, basic assessments, therapeutic interventions, crisis management, and coordination of care in accordance with established competencies and clinic policies. This role monitors patient safety, documents and reports findings, facilitates psychoeducational programs, supports rehabilitation efforts, and collaborates with providers and external agencies to ensure comprehensive mental health services delivery.
Required Qualifications:
- Education:
- Graduation from an accredited Psychiatric Technician Program or
- Completion of an equivalent education and experience that meets the requirement of the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians or
- Completion of education and experience as a behavioral science specialist/technician in the United States military and proof of having completed an Armed Forces course involving psychiatric technician training or civilian course from an accredited school in the care of behavioral health patients
- Certifications:
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Experience: One year of experience as a Psychiatric Technician after graduation
U.S. Citizenship is required
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitor, escort, and/or act as a therapeutic participant in patient activities in the outpatient psychiatric clinic and outpatient programs.
- Provide care for patients utilizing proper infection control and safety techniques as planned and/or ordered. Documents per clinic policy and notifies the mental health provider in charge of any abnormal or unusual findings in a timely manner.
- Screen patients to determine presenting problems and priority of appointment. This may entail telephone triage or in-person evaluation. Performs basic assessment procedures, including initial screening evaluation and standardized psychological testing. Assists credentialed providers with identifying mental health diagnosis and treatment strategies, as well as providing patient education.
- Assist in providing specialized treatment and rehabilitation of mental health patients. Assist in conducting individual and group therapy sessions. Observe, monitor, report, and record patient interaction and progress. Institute precautionary measures to prevent patient injuries due to suicide, homicide, or elopement. Perform verbal de-escalation and applies manual or mechanical restraints as needed. Receives training and maintains certification in the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behaviors (PMDB), Levels I-IV.
- Present or facilitate a variety of health and wellness programs, including stress management, suicide prevention/intervention, and smoking cessation. Conduct various programs in support of the clinic.
- Coordinate with other base agencies and MTFs regarding specialized care, treatment, and administrative functions. Contact military or community agencies to obtain collateral information. Explains and interprets mental health services and procedures to access care to patients and commands. Assists in or arranges for patient referral to other facilities for alternate level of care.
- Provide care to mentally ill or emotionally disturbed patients and participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs.
- Measure and record patient's general physical condition, such as weight, pulse, temperature, and respiration, to provide daily information. Observe patients to detect behavior patterns and report observations to medical staff.
- Co-facilitate prescribed psychoeducational individual or group sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures and independently facilitate educational groups.
- Schedule new and follow-up patients for clinic appointments, in accordance with applicable service Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and FHCC instructions.
Work Environment & Schedule: Monday through Friday from 7:00am - 5:00pm, onsite required, Lovell Federal Health Care Center
Compensation & Benefits: Up to $26.00 per hour + Health and Welfare
Physical requirements: May be required to lift 20-25 lbs independently. Position requires long periods of standing.
Decypher is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce (M/F/D/V)