Mental Health Technician 1 - Underfill - Minimum Qualifications Waived

This Mental Health Technician position supports SOUTHERN NEVADA ADULT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (SNAMHS) and is assigned to the Mesquite Behavioral Health Center. Our Agency's mission is to help adults with mental illness improve their quality of life. Incumbents provide professional, positive, and therapeutic direct care to mentally ill adult clients and severe emotionally disturb youth. Incumbents receive training in all duties assigned.

Will work directly with a team of clinicians, psychiatric nurse, and other mental health professionals. This position will provide direct consumer care, such as provide psychosocial rehabilitation, teach basic skills, take vital signs, introduce and support community activities to consumers, will observe and document findings in the electronic record system, facilitate individual or group basic skills training sessions under direct supervision of mental health professionals, and transport clients to and from appointments using state vehicle.

As condition for continued employment Mental Health Technicians are required to comply with NRS 433.279 and become a Certified Mental Health Technician 3 within 2 years from date of hire, through completion of required coursework. This certification is a progression requirement (5 credits from Tech 1 to Tech 2 and 5 credits from Tech 2 to Tech
3), but it is also the primary clinical training program for technicians. Once certified, the technician must maintain certification by completing 20 hours of continuing education units every two years following the date on which initial certification was issued. This position requires completion of respirator fit testing, completion of Certification in Conflict Prevention and Response Training and CPR certification.

Mental Health Technicians supplement the work of mental health professionals, health specialists, and nursing staff including participation in the formulation and implementation of treatment plans for clients in a mental health facility. Employees work in environments such as psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, psychological evaluation service units, sexual offender units, rural clinics, and related treatment areas where they may be exposed to verbal and physical assault by clients.

Graduation from high school or equivalent education and one year of general work experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Assist in observing client behavior on an ongoing basis to monitor the effectiveness of treatment plans; assist in documenting progress in client charts; and assist in reporting significant behavioral and/or medical problems to the interdisciplinary team leader, nurses, or other professional clinical staff.

Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings as assigned; discuss client behavior and provide input and recommendations on changes to the treatment plan in order to optimize client care.

Act as a role model for clients by demonstrating appropriate behavior and applying active listening techniques; establish therapeutic interpersonal relationships with assigned clients through one-on-one interactions in order to accomplish treatment plan goals.

Receive incoming crisis calls from the public and refer to appropriate professional staff.

Protect clients’ rights by demonstrating appropriate professional and personal behavior; report observed violations of clients’ rights and suspected or known instances of client abuse or neglect consistent with facility and division policies and procedures and federal and Statestatutes and guidelines; provide client, caregiver and/or family instruction regarding the clients’ individual treatment structure to include ongoing assessment; facilitate and protect clients during community events.

Collect and maintain data to produce reports and maintain accurate records which may be used for billing purposes; complete special reports such as incident and accident reports; enter client data into the computer to include demographics, admission, unit, and discharge information; assemble and audit client charts within the requirements of the facility; and maintain confidentiality in compliance with…