Riverside Healthcare is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Mental Health Technician to join our Inpatient Senior Behavioral Health Unit in Kankakee, Illinois. In this role, you will combine the responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with the specialized duties of a Mental Health Technician. You will provide vital support to our senior patients experiencing mental health challenges, ensuring a safe, therapeutic environment while promoting dignity and well-being. Additionally, this role requires flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

• Assist patients with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, grooming, bathing, and dressing, in accordance with CNA protocols.
• Monitor and document patient behavior, moods, and progress, promptly reporting any changes to nursing staff and the treatment team.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions and activities, promoting patient engagement and social interaction.
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment by adhering to safety protocols, ensuring proper handling of any behavioral crises.
• Provide emotional support and companionship to patients, fostering trust and encouraging open communication.
• Support the implementation of individualized treatment plans, collaborating with the healthcare team.
• Participate in staff meetings and contribute insights on patient progress and care strategies.
• Respond promptly to patient needs and emergencies, utilizing de-escalation techniques when necessary.
• Perform routine vital signs and reporting findings to nursing staff.

Nonessential Duties

• Assist with administrative tasks as needed, such as filing, data entry, and patient record maintenance.
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to support comprehensive patient care.

Required Experience

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with patients and families.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and maintain professionalism in challenging situations.

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in a mental health setting, particularly with senior populations, is preferred.
• Basic understanding of mental health conditions and treatment modalities.

Required Licensure/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification is required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Secure certification required upon hire and maintained annually.

Preferred Education

• College level courses in Psychology or related field preferred 
• Associate's Degree preferred.

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure:

Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets

Video Display Terminals: Average

Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.

TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help. 

Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.

Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. 

Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds.

Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Shift: Variable for 24-hour coverage

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 10%

Twist: 4%

Stand: 40%

Crawl: 0%

Walk: 25%

Kneel: 1%

Lift: 10%

Drive: 0%

Squat: 1%

Climb: 1%

Bend: 30%

Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

Up to 10 lbs: Frequently

Up to 20 lbs: Frequently

Up to 35 lbs: Frequently

Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally

Up to 75 lbs: Not Required

Up to 100 lbs: Not Required

Over 100lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).

Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.

Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

Sit: 30

Twist: 15

Stand: 60

Crawl: 0

Walk: 10

Kneel: 0

Lift: 5

Drive: 0

Squat: 2

Climb: 1

Bend: 15

Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

Simple grasp 10 lbs. Normal weight <5lbs.

Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally

Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, medical/supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength: Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.)

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards:

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):

Inside hours: Varies by shift

Outside hours: 0

Temperature: Normal Range

Lighting: Average

Noise levels: Average

Humidity: Normal Range

Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards: 

Chemical -drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.

Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.