CNA/MENTAL HEALTH TECH

Riverside Healthcare is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Mental Health Technician to join our Inpatient Senior Behavioral Health Unit in Kankakee, Illinois. In this role, you will combine the responsibilities of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with the specialized duties of a Mental Health Technician. You will provide vital support to our senior patients experiencing mental health challenges, ensuring a safe, therapeutic environment while promoting dignity and well-being. Additionally, this role requires flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

• Assist patients with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, grooming, bathing, and dressing, in accordance with CNA protocols.
• Monitor and document patient behavior, moods, and progress, promptly reporting any changes to nursing staff and the treatment team.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions and activities, promoting patient engagement and social interaction.
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment by adhering to safety protocols, ensuring proper handling of any behavioral crises.
• Provide emotional support and companionship to patients, fostering trust and encouraging open communication.
• Support the implementation of individualized treatment plans, collaborating with the healthcare team.
• Participate in staff meetings and contribute insights on patient progress and care strategies.
• Respond promptly to patient needs and emergencies, utilizing de-escalation techniques when necessary.
• Perform routine vital signs and reporting findings to nursing staff.

Nonessential Duties

• Assist with administrative tasks as needed, such as filing, data entry, and patient record maintenance.
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to support comprehensive patient care.

Responsibilities:

Required Experience

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with patients and families.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and maintain professionalism in challenging situations.

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in a mental health setting, particularly with senior populations, is preferred.
• Basic understanding of mental health conditions and treatment modalities.

Required Licensure/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification is required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Secure certification required upon hire and maintained annually.

Preferred Education

• College level courses in Psychology or related field preferred 
• Associate's Degree preferred.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more so your journey at and away from work is remarkable. Our Total Rewards package includes: 

Compensation

•              Base compensation within the positions pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
•              Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
•              Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits - .5 to 1.0 FTE

•              Paid Time Off programs
•              Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
•              Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
•              Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
•              Educational Assistance Program

Benefits - .001 to .49 FTE:

•              Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure:

Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets

Video Display Terminals: Average

Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.

TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help. 

Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.

Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. 

Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds.

Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Average Hours per Week: 6-40

Shift: Variable for 24-hour coverage

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 10%

Twist: 4%

Stand: 40%

Crawl: 0%

Walk: 25%

Kneel: 1%

Lift: 10%

Drive: 0%

Squat: 1%

Climb: 1%

Bend: 30%

Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

Up to 10 lbs: Frequently

Up to 20 lbs: Frequently

Up to 35 lbs: Frequently

Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally

Up to 75 lbs: Not Required

Up to 100 lbs: Not Required

Over 100lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.

Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).

Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.

Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

Sit: 30

Twist: 15

Stand: 60

Crawl: 0

Walk: 10

Kneel: 0

Lift: 5

Drive: 0

Squat: 2

Climb: 1

Bend: 15

Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

Simple grasp 10 lbs. Normal weight <5lbs.

Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally

Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, medical/supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength: 

Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.)

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards:

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):

Inside hours: 6-40

Outside hours: 0

Temperature: Normal Range

Lighting: Average

Noise levels: Average

Humidity: Normal Range

Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards: 

Chemical -drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.

Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.