Behavioral and Mental Health Tech

• Area of Interest: Behavioral Health Services

• FTE/Hours per pay period: 1.0

• Department: Access Center

• Shift: 10 hour shifts between (hours of shift between 1pm-12am), Mon-Thur

• Job ID:

Overview

AbbeHealth Services - is a regional healthcare organization dedicated to providing mental health and aging services that help individuals achieve their optimum levels of independence and success.

GuideLink Center is managed by AbbeHealth Services and is located in Iowa City, Iowa. GuideLink Center is a community-initiated collaborative services, including rapid assessment, triage, stabilization, and follow-up resources for adults experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

Safety Techs are responsible for providing services that seek to create a safe and secure environment for the departments where they are assigned. The Safety Tech undertakes activities designed to identify, deter, abate and de-escalate routine and emergent situations that occur on the assigned unit.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.   Here are just a few:    

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program .

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family .

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.  

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Physical Environment of Care

• Provide a safe environment to the patients and assigned departments by demonstrating an awareness of patient and personal safety.

• Perform safety rounds on units and to ensure the safety and well-being of all patients and accurately documents safety rounds.

• Demonstrate knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately

• Utilize de-escalation skills and intervene with patients to prevent aggression and assaults.

• Use Motivational Interviewing techniques to facilitate conversations with patients for the purpose of identifying strategies to be successful while at work site and after discharge.

• Assess and choose teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age, specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.

• Consult appropriate resources within the work site to provide specialized education as needed.

• Continue professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance clinical practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research.

Patient Safety

• De-escalate patients that are behaviorally escalated using strategies identified in Verbal Judo and other assigned trainings.

• Assist in safely utilizing available equipment to maintain safety at work site.

Regulatory Compliance

• Provide documentation of rounds and all other items required by regulatory standards or policies and procedures.

• Demonstrates ability to meet business needs of department with regular, reliable attendance.

• Employee maintains current licenses and/or certifications required for the position.

• Practices and reflects knowledge of HIPAA, OSHA and other federal/state regulatory agencies guiding healthcare.

• Completes all annual education and competency requirements within the calendar year.

• Is knowledgeable of work site compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance to the immediate attention of hospital administrative staff. Takes appropriate action on concerns reported by department staff related to compliance.

Qualifications

Education:

High School diploma or post-secondary education

Post-secondary degree in criminal justice, counseling or other human service degree preferred.

Experience:

1-3 years working in a related field.

License(s)/Certification(s):

None required

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Good communication and documentation skills.

Ability to defuse acute situations with behavioral patients

Calm and compassionate presence