Psychiatric Technician (Safety)

About This Role

This Psychiatric Technician (Safety) role involves creating a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, applying mental health principles, and performing custody tasks. The incumbent will observe and intervene in patient behavior, apply therapeutic strategies, and perform nursing procedures, including administering medications. The role is supervised by a Unit Supervisor, Supervising Registered Nurse, Program Assistant, and led by a Senior Psychiatric Technician/Registered Nurse Lead or Alternate Shift Lead.

Responsibilities

• Help to create a clean, safe and therapeutic environment for patients
• Apply mental health principles and relationship security with patients
• Perform custody tasks including supervision of patient activities
• Search for drugs, contraband, weapons, and inspect facilities to identify security breaches that could lead to the escape of a patient
• Observe and intervene in patient behavior that may injure people, damage property, or signal impending escape attempts
• Apply and demonstrate knowledge of Trauma Informed Care (TIC)
• Apply and demonstrate knowledge of correct methods in Therapeutic Strategies and Interventions (TSI), that includes patient containment, heavy lifting, applying restraints, and responding to emergency situations throughout the hospital
• Perform nursing procedures such as administering medications including oral medications and hypodermic injection, observing patients’ physical condition and behavior and reporting significant changes to a shift supervisor, unit supervisor or physician and recording nursing notes in the patients or inmate record

Important Details

• Work location: San Luis Obispo County

About the Company

The Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero is a secure public sector hospital providing inpatient forensic services for mentally ill adult males who are court committed throughout the State of California. It is located on the central coast of California, in the vicinity of destination locations such as San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Morro Bay, with easy access to beautiful beaches, serene natural settings, and many historical landmarks.