Behavioral Wellness Psychiatric Technician

Description

SALARY

Psychiatric Technician I: $61,275.76 - $73,262.09 Annually

Psychiatric Technician II: $67,879.40 - $81,318.37 Annually

Bilingual allowance when applicable

Special Duty Assignment allowance when regularly assigned to a Psychiatric Health Facility.

We are accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Psychiatric Technician vacancy in the County of Santa Barbara, Department of Behavioral Wellness Children's Outpatient Services in Santa Maria. Bilingual skills in English/Spanish required for this vacancy.

Location of Vacancies: We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list for current and future Full-Time, Part-Time, and Extra Help (temporary) and *1414 vacancies for Psychiatric Technician in multiple locations which include Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Therefore, you must check the Individual Location(s) on the application, work types, and departments where you would be willing to accept an assignment for current and future employment. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name may be sent to the hiring department for the vacancy locations where you have expressed interest in working.

• 1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

Founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from addiction and mental illness among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services.

The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers.

For more information, please visit: www.countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness

THE POSITION: The candidate selected for this position will, under direction, provide nursing care to mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; participates in an overall psychiatric treatment program; and performs related duties as required. Candidates may be assigned to in-patient health facilities or out-patient clinics.

The candidate will assist physicians, clients and colleagues in a variety of settings; inpatient at the Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF), outpatient in the core clinics, in the field with Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and triage teams, and in other special settings, these key team members provide services to adults and children. Assist clients to understand doctors' orders, to be aware of effects associated with medications prescribed, and in obtaining the medications prescribed by transmitting prescriptions to the client's pharmacy. At times, the Psychiatric Technician will administer injections as ordered by the Physician. Assist in obtaining vital signs for the doctor's information, support the client in obtaining lab tests as ordered, and many other functions. As team members, they are key players in an effort to maximize client compliance with prescribed medication, and are the main conduit of information between consumers and their physicians between appointments.

The current full-time Psychiatric Technician vacancy is for Children's Outpatient Services in Santa Maria. This position will work as part of the treatment team at the Santa Maria Children's Outpatient Clinic, serving children, teens, and Transitional Age Youth by providing individual, family and or group rehab and skill training. Desired experience/training in the following areas: Understanding of the impact of trauma in children, teens, and Transitional Age Youth Family Systems knowledge; Screening , Evaluation and Treatment planning; Providing Individual, Family, and/or Group rehab and skill training; work with children or teens involved with gangs or juvenile probation; work with children in the foster care system and collaboration with Child Welfare Services; work with schools, children in Special Education or with IEP; Crisis Intervention with children; other relevant experience. Bilingual skills in English/Spanish required.

Candidates may be appointed at the I or II level, depending on the candidate's qualifications and the needs of the department.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Incumbents in these classes work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and/or contract service agencies providing assessment, prevention, intervention, treatment, and related ancillary support services via an integrated service delivery system to people with alcohol and other drug-related problems, mental illness, forensic facilities and/or co-occurring conditions.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have experience in a psychiatric facility or community mental health program.

• Experience working with severely mentally ill clients, providing therapeutic support.

• Have excellent oral and written communication.

• Experience in forensic facilities

• Work with clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness.

• Works well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Be flexible and have good time management.

• Have excellent conflict resolution skills.

• Experience working with electronic health records.

• Have the ability to read, write, converse fluently in English (Spanish desirable for some positions but not required).

Examples of Duties

• Performs a basic level of psychiatric nursing care by assisting in the coordination of services, including assessment, planning, monitoring, documenting, and evaluating services provided as well as by giving personal care to patients, escorting patients, and providing other patient care.

• Identifies the personal needs of patients; implements nursing care to individual patients by providing professional nursing assistance, such as taking and charting vital signs and administering medications, treatments, and enemas.

• Observes and records patient's condition and behavior and reports significant changes to the appropriate authority; observes a variety of clinical problems and handles the less complex matters within the limits of knowledge and authority.

• Under supervision of the appropriate professional staff, provides crisis intervention and provides a behavioral role model for patients by using effective mental health techniques.

• Acts as a liaison between patient, family, other staff, and other agencies; initiates and holds consultations and family conferences.

• Takes admitting psychiatric histories and assists in ongoing treatment, discharge planning and placement of patients; may make home visits; provides services to board and care facilities housing mentally ill patients and provides appropriate after-care services to patients discharged from a psychiatric hospital.

• Assists in the collection of research data; gives information regarding departmental services to patients, relatives, other agencies, and the public.

• At the Behavioral Wellness Psychiatric Technician II level, may serve as a trainer, consultant, and resource for other staff in methods of patient care, department policies and procedures, and specialized practices such as crisis prevention training.

Employment Standards

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet the employment standards (minimum qualifications) listed below:

• Possession of a valid license as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the State of California; OR,
• Possession of a valid license as a Vocational Nurse issued by the State of California AND one (1) year of nursing experience in a psychiatric facility or community mental health program; OR,
• A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and license.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Driver's License: Independent travel is required for some positions in this class. A valid Driver's License is required at the time of application. A valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of appointment.

Credentialing: Employees in this class must maintain a Credentialed status with the Department based upon its established standards and procedures for Staff Credentialing and Re-Credentialing in accordance with state and federal regulatory requirements.

Knowledge of: the fundamentals of nursing care, crisis intervention techniques, patient behavior, and mental hygiene principles and procedures involved in the assessment, care, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation of emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients; current first aid methods; medical and psychiatric terminology; pharmacology, including typical reactions and responses to psychotropic drugs and common medications as well as their possible side effects.

Ability to: provide basic psychiatric nursing care to emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients; learn and apply effective mental health techniques for communicating with persons with mental disorders; understand, interpret, and apply relevant laws and regulations; establish effective working relationships with patients, their families, colleagues, community representatives, and other county staff members; recognize and respect limits of authority and responsibility; keep accurate records and follow oral and written directions.

Supplemental Information

• Fingerprinting for the purpose of a criminal record check as authorized by Section 16501 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code and Section 11105.3 of the California Penal Code may be required for some positions.

• Finalists for positions in this class will be required to pass a pre-offer, job-related background investigation.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Candidates' response to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than eleven (11) qualified candidates.

Applicants must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.

• The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Veteran's Preference Points: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.

To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD214 to the Human Resources Department by attaching it to your application, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.

Recruiters will communicate with applicant by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

BENEFITS: For more information on County of Santa Barbara benefits click on the Benefits Tab above or click HERE. In addition, applicants from the public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Friday, June 28, 2024 by 4:59pm PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Amaris Tang, Recruitment Analyst, Behavioral Wellness Department - atang@sbcbwell.org