Title: Psychiatric Technician

State Role Title: 49053

Hiring Range: $37,505 - $51,756 ; Salary to commensurate with experience

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central State Hospital

Agency Website: www.csh.dbhds.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.

CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.

Central State Hospital is currently recruiting Psychiatric Technicians to join our team. The Psychiatric Technicians are under the supervision of an RN to provide recovery oriented direct care to an adult population ranging from ages 18 - 64 in both a civil setting and a maximum-security forensic setting. The Psych Techs are responsible for maintaining a safe, clean and therapeutic environment that actively supports and motivates patients to participate in their individualized treatment plans. The successful incumbents will have the ability to distinguish between safe and unsafe patient behavior by observing, interacting, and listening. The Psych Techs will have the ability to observe, report and document changes in patients' mental, physical, and behavioral status. The Psychiatric Technicians must have the ability to work overtime hours, rotating weekends, and holidays.

Job Duties:
• Assists patients with ADLs such as bathing, grooming, dressing, eating and laundry to the extent required based on patient functionality. Affords the patient the opportunity to do as much as possible for themselves and performs activities with the patient when they cannot. Follows policy regarding the care of patients who are incontinent and those who have difficulty with ambulation and/or are wheelchair bound.
• Completes vital signs and weights as assigned by Charge RN, reports results to Charge RN and documents on the patient’s vital signs/weight flow sheets.
• Follows all nursing procedures for physical care activities.
• Transports patients to activities, lab, courtyard, and off ground assignments as assigned.
• When assigned patients for off-ground appointment/activities assures patient is dressed appropriate for weather, activity and initiates preparations to assure timely arrival for appointment.
• Assigned patients and their rooms reflect good hygiene and orderliness or there is clear documentation in the patient record regarding related interventions, response, and referral to treatment team.
• Consistently implements infection control procedures.
• Attends treatment team meetings as assigned, discusses information related to patient status, and provides input into patient’s individualized plan of care.
• Monitors patients whereabouts as assigned at appropriate time, according to observation status and accurately document on observation sheets.
• Follows all procedures for special observations.
• Orients new patients to unit layout and routine.
• Assures that patient belongings are safely retained or packed for transfer or discharge.
• Provides positive feedback/encouragement to patients for accomplishments and progress towards recovery goal.
• Advocates for patients’ rights and reports violations to appropriate personnel per policy.
• Files documentation in the appropriate place at the end of each shift.
• All required documentation is complete, accurate, and timely.
• Completes patient care documentation including but not limited to nursing incidental notes (ID notes), Nursing Daily Documentation, group participation documentation.
• Completes and submits leave request forms in advance of leave time requested and prior to finalization of schedule.
• Promptly completes incident report and employee injury report documentation in accordance with hospital policy and submits to Charge RN
• Documentation is concise legible, behaviorally descriptive, and free of judgmental statements or opinions.
• Maintains chart order, files documentation in the appropriate place at the end of each shift.
• Refrains from sharing medical record content or information with patients and immediately refers any/all patient requests to learn or view content of his/her medical record to the Charge RN and treatment team.

Minimum Qualifications

- A valid Virginia Driver's License is required
- Experience as a CNA, Aide and/or Tech

Additional Considerations

- Current enrollment in or completion of a degree program in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, or any other health care major.
- Experience as a CNA/Aide/Tech providing direct care to individuals with mental illness, substance abuse issues, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities in a healthcare or mental health setting

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Central State Hospital only accepts online applications via RMS. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.

An extensive criminal history background investigation, not limited to employment references, drug testing and E-Verify will be conducted.

Central State Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of four health insurance plans, paid life insurance and retirement plans, 12 paid holidays, annual and sick leave.

Applicants must list all relevant experience that you wish to be considered for this position. Applicants will be provided confirmation of receipt when your application and/or resume is submitted. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. A fingerprint-based criminal history check and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code §37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific “barrier” crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending “barrier” charges.

DBHDS facilities are no longer required to ensure that all staff members are vaccinated against COVID-19. However, facilities encourage and educate staff on the benefits, and continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination programs to staff, residents/clients. Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Human Resources.

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS, to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at (804) 524-7111 for assistance.

DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability. Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: (804) 524-7111

Email: CSHRecruitment@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.