Mental Health Technician: Psych - Full Time Only

Shift : Various shifts available 36 and 40 hours per week: days, evenings and nights* exact shift option will vary by current needs

Day shift: 0700 – 1930 or 0700 – 1530

Evening shift: 2300 – 1130 or 1500 – 2330

Night shift: 1900 – 0730 or 2300 – 0730

Work Arrangement : On-Site

Department : Missouri Psychiatric Center

Facility : University Hospital – 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation

• Base Pay Range: $16.68 - $26.31 per hour, based on experience
• Special Pay: Additional $0.75 per hour premium pay
• Shift Differentials: Additional $2.00 per hour for evening, night and weekend shift, additional $4.00/hour for weekend program (if available)

ABOUT THE JOB

As a Mental Health Tech at Missouri Psychiatric Center (MUPC), you will be an essential part of a multidisciplinary team providing compassionate, patient-centered care to children, adolescents, and adults receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. Working in our Assessment, Adult, or Pediatric units, you will support patients through daily activities, therapeutic programming, and individualized treatment plans designed to promote recovery and wellness. In this role, you will observe, document, and communicate patient behaviors and condition changes while helping maintain a safe and supportive environment. You will build meaningful connections with patients through therapeutic communication and active participation in treatment activities. MUPC provides specialized training in non-violent crisis intervention, behavioral therapy techniques, group facilitation, and other valuable skills that will help you succeed in the behavioral health field. Working alongside nurses, physicians, therapists, and other care team members, you will play a critical role in crisis stabilization, patient safety, and rehabilitation. If you are compassionate, adaptable, and passionate about making a difference in the lives of those facing mental health challenges, MUPC offers a rewarding opportunity to grow your career while positively impacting the communities we serve.

ABOUT MISSOURI PSYCHIATRIC CENTER (MUPC)

The Missouri Psychiatric Center offers short-term, intensive inpatient treatment services for adults, adolescents and children at our facility adjacent to University Hospital in Columbia, MO. The center's 61 inpatient beds are divided among three units. A 17-bed unit serves pre-adolescents, ages 5-12, and adolescents, ages 13-17, two units with a total of 44 beds serve adults. The MU Psychiatric Center also offers an emergency room assessment unit for both adult and pediatric patients to help with crisis stabilization, intake and discharge planning for patients. We provide special training in non-violent crisis intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute) and additional special training in behavioral therapy, therapeutic communication, group skills, and more!

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger - to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system - the only in mid-Missouri - is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions - with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Learn more about MU Health Care.

Learn more about living in mid -Missouri.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
• See a comprehensive list of benefits here .

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Report and record observable changes in patient behavior and physical condition.
• Assist with, or participate in re-motivation, rehabilitation, re-socialization, and behavior modification programs. Interact with patients as a part of the treatment plan, including social, recreational, and treatment activities in order to provide continuing treatment and rehabilitation.
• Teach and/or assist residents in self-help skills and social behavior based on the level of maturation of each patient.
• Initiate and participate in group and/or individual activities with patients; escort patients as assigned. Participate in specialized programs, such as adjunctive therapies, and interact with patients individually.
• Retrieve and return meal carts and observe meal times for safety.
• Plan and/or assist in planning, initiating, and participating in special programs for patients such as self-help skills, social behavior, re-motivation, rehabilitation, and resocialization.
• Respond to, and participate in, crisis interventions (assaultive/resistive behavior, suicide attempts, medical emergencies, etc.) to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and the general public . Ability to perform such techniques as Basic Life Support (BLS) and crisis prevention interventions in such situations.
• Perform basic nursing care and provide general daily care of patients. Perform and record bedside nursing activities including taking and recording patients’ vital signs, collecting urine samples, and performing venipuncture to obtain a blood sample. Deliver specimens to designated areas.
• Assist the physician and/or nursing personnel by preparing patients for physical examinations, and oxygen therapy; and observing and caring for patients during treatments.
• Maintain a safe and clean patient environment by keeping the area free from material that could pose a hazard to patients.
• Perform grooming and hygiene (including dressing, bathing, toileting, and feeding) for patients unable to do so. Teach patients living skills (hygiene, grooming, social interaction, etc.) as a part of the treatment plan.
• Provide frequent offers of assistance and comfort measures to patients to ensure patient satisfaction and care needs are met.
• Maintain adequate supplies and equipment.
• Escort patients to and from medical appointments and testing procedures at other locations in the hospital. Accompany patients on transport to other programs/facilities throughout the state.
• Perform other duties as delegated by nursing staff and unit management as needed in both routine and emergent situations.
• May complete unit/department-specific duties as outlined in department documents.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

One of the following

• Is enrolled in a professional or practical nursing education program and has or will complete a Fundamentals of Nursing course within 90 days; or
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam registration; or --Proof of certification as a Patient Care Technician (PCT); or
• Direct patient care experience in the past three (3) years as a nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, or surgical technician; or
• Completion within the last three (3) years, or will complete within 180 days, an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) training program and clinical log demonstrating 100 hours of patient care experience; or
• Nursing licensure candidate who was unsuccessful on the state licensure examinations in the past three (3) years; or
• Completion a nursing program outside the United States and is awaiting the licensure examination in this country.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.