At Houston Methodist, the Residential Mental Health Technician position is responsible for demonstrating the skills necessary to effectively facilitate tasks for residential patients' needs such as personal hygiene, ambulation, and healthy behaviors. This position promotes and maintains a safe environment conducive to social interaction, healing and healthy functioning while working under the supervision and guidance of clinical staff to provide direct patient care within the parameters of their scope and the plan of care. The Residential Mental Health Technician position reports observations, records data, and patient dilemmas to the senior clinical staff members, rounds in the facility to ensure a safe, orderly environment, while safeguarding clients according to their daily activity schedules with the ultimate goal of motivating clients to be as independent as possible, while still providing needed assistance.

**PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**

+ Maintains professional boundaries and confidences with patients and staff; providing direct personal care and supervision to patients in accordance with individual service plan(s) to include professional grooming, personal appearance, speech, and hygiene.

+ Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients; actively encourages patient participation in activities and meetings. Initiates interactions in a supportive and therapeutic manner; assisting with activities of daily living as indicated.

+ Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

**SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**

+ Provides care consistent with patient's developmental level to maximize patient functioning. Recognizes and reports abnormalities and/or changes in the patient's health status and responses to treatment to a licensed professional

+ Offers observations to various team members regarding patient care.

+ Serves as an advocate for patients.

+ Participates in psych-educational groups with patients as assigned.

**QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**

+ Rounds in the facility to ensure a safe, orderly environment, while safeguarding clients according to their daily activity schedules.

+ Performs competent situational monitoring and awareness to provide a safe environment.

+ Communicates team resource and performance improvement needs to ensure quality and customer service standards, impacting quality and safety department targets.

**FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**

+ Maintains accurate and complete documentation of patient interventions and education performed in a timely manner in the medical record. Accurately enters charges for services provided, as applicable.

+ Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. Uses resources effectively and efficiently.

**GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**

+ Supports department goals by offering innovative solutions through participation in department projects or committees. Generates and communicates new ideas and suggestions that improve quality or services.

+ Seeks guidance and validation of knowledge base, skill level and decision-making as necessary, especially in areas of question, from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel

+ Assumes responsibility for self-growth and development by participating in in-services programs and continuing education, completing and updating My Development plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

**EDUCATION**

+ High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

**WORK EXPERIENCE**

+ One year experience providing care in a setting including hospital, nursing home, treatment facility, assisted living, or home health/private duty

**LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED**

+ NVCRISIS - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) within 6 months **AND**

+ BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA)

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES**

+ Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

+ Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

+ Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

+ Proficient in orienting newly admitted patients to the program

+ Assists patients to utilize free time in a healthy manner

**SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS**

**WORK ATTIRE**

+ Uniform No

+ Scrubs Yes

+ Business professional No

+ Other (department approved) No

**ON-CALL***

_*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below._

+ On Call* Yes

**TRAVEL****

_**Travel specifications may vary by department**_

+ May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes

+ May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

**Company Profile:**

Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group is an integral part of Houston Methodist's overall strategy to become one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. Established as a nonprofit corporation certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Specialty Physician Group enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.