Title: Psych Tech III

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: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

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 2026.

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.

Job Duties Include:
Provides Patient Care/Implements Treatment Plans:
• Interacts with assigned patients according to treatment plan to assist patients to meet treatment goals.
• Promotes self-care whenever possible.
• Initiates and participates in leisure skill and socialization activities.
• Provide or assist patients to meet ADL’s including basic hygiene, room maintenance, and clothes maintenance.
• Perform duties related to special observations.
• Perform designated nursing procedures for physical monitoring such as vital signs, weights, specimen collection.
• Is alert to barriers to implementing procedures or plans and promptly reports those to the Charge RN.
• Conducts patient groups such as skill building and leisure skill groups consistent with competency level.
• Shares observations with the Charge RN that will assist in developing or revising a treatment plan.
• Assists with admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
• Completes all duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates behaviors that support the facility's mission, vision and values. • 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Valid Driver’s License.

KSA’s and or Competencies required to successfully perform the work:

• Ability to distinguish between safe and unsafe patient behavior by observing, interacting, and listening.
• Ability to read, write, and speak in the English language.
• Ability to observe, report, and document changes in patients’ mental, physical, and behavioral status.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to maintain all required orientation and annual competencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with supervisors, co-workers and patients from varied backgrounds using effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to recognize the need and ask for help or assistance in providing care and treatment.
• Ability to document in legal records using narrative format.
• Ability to give and receive effective feedback and perform as a member of a team.
• Ability to administer CPR and perform T.O. approved physical interventions.
• Ability to work overtime hours, rotating weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to use e-mail and electronic health records.

Additional Considerations

• 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.
• Current enrollment in or completion of a degree program in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, or any other health care major.

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 is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, parental status, pregnancy, military service/status, or other non-merit factor. We commit to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In addition, the Commonwealth of Virginia/Central State Hospital offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, access to Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term (LTD) Disability benefits, twelve (12) paid holidays and other leave benefits, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching.

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.
For consideration, interested applicants must apply by completing the online application and/or submit a resume. However, emailed, faxed, and hand-delivered applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:55 p.m., on the listed closing date. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Central State Hospital welcomes all applicants authorized to work in the U.S. For more information on how to seek this authorization, please refer to Working in the United States or contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office directly.

For any technical assistance with the jobs.virginia.gov website, please contact applicantinquiry@dhrm.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.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer

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.