Mental Health Technician

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Longview, healing is our focus. We are passionate about helping adults and seniors manage the challenges associated with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Utilizing proven, innovative and progressive therapies, our qualified professionals strive to promote long-term wellness through a range of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric counseling and treatment options.

• Adhere to professional standards, follow policies and procedures and abide by federal, state and local requirements, as well as Joint Commission standards.
• Effectively apply supportive behavior when assisting in the control of patients who exhibit unacceptable behavior. Demonstrate the ability to employ de‑escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed; completes unit safety checks.
• Comply with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attend required in‑services to keep self‑informed.
• Implement patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel; perform vital signs, weights, ADL, intake and output documentation, nutritional monitoring and communicate findings to the nurse. Ensure patients receive appropriate diet by reviewing dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences.
• Assist patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining belongings; assist at risk and/or physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
• Individualize all patient care activities to the age specific, disability, cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
• Communicate and document patient observation and date effectively in the patient record; document patient’s departure from unit (e.g., for passes, transport to doctor’s appointment, community meetings) with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines; document significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake, and patient observation findings on assigned patients as requested by the registered nurse, with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines.
• Communicate outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff in a timely manner; communicate follow‑up on patient care responsibilities; incomplete assignments, ongoing activities and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuity of care.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

High school graduate or equivalent with CNA certification or at least 6 months of prior bedside, direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting is required.

Must be able to read, write and follow verbal and written instruction. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must work well with diverse populations. Must utilize age, disability and cultural specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients. Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity.

Must be able to work under close supervision. Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans approved behavioral de‑escalation program.