ABOLISHED 01/01/2017 PER PAY LETTER 17-04 - Psychiatric Technician Trainee
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: TL70
Class Code: 8235
Established: 08/04/1951
Revised: 03/07/1995
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under close supervision and in a training capacity, to participate in the treatment programs of a State hospital for the mentally or developmentally disabled; to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide a basic level of general behavioral and psychiatric nursing care to the mentally or developmentally disabled; and to do other related work.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Positions in this class are filled by students enrolled in an accredited Psychiatric Technician training program. All appointments in this class are made on a limited-term basis and incumbents will not attain permanent status in this class.
Typical Tasks
Assists in carrying out activity and training programs for mentally or developmentally disabled voluntary, involuntary or judicially committed clients; helps to create a safe and therapeutic environment for clients; helps to motivate clients to develop self-reliance in daily living; assists in developing and encourages participation in on-the-unit group and individual activities for clients; assists in occupational, recreational, vocational and educational therapy programs for clients; escorts groups of clients to and from activities on the hospital grounds; escorts clients to local communities for shopping tours and other activities; assists with client feeding, habit training, and maintaining a well-groomed appearance; helps keep clients and their clothing, beds, and living areas clean; and attends unit and staff conferences to develop an understanding of and reasons for treatment being given.
A Psychiatric Technician Trainee also receives training in basic nursing care and treatment of mentally disabled and developmentally disabled clients consisting of classroom instruction and demonstration, residential unit nursing practice under supervision in designated units, and attendance at appropriate unit and staff conferences; assists the medical service personnel in the nursing care and treatment of clients; performs a basic level of general behavioral and psychiatric nursing procedures under close supervision of qualified medical and nursing staff; assists the nursing and medical personnel who are administering medications and treatments.
Minimum Qualifications
Enrollment in a Psychiatric Technician training program accredited by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners. (Applicants who are eligible for enrollment in an accredited program will be admitted to the examination and may be appointed in the next lower class of Psychiatric Technician Training Candidate but they must be enrolled before they will be eligible for appointment to this class.) and Education: Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade. (Enrollment as a senior in the last semester of high school will admit applicants to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Arithmetic computations, including fractions; the metric system; spelling and grammar.
Ability to: Communicate effectively; acquire general behavioral and psychiatric nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes; apply basic nursing knowledge and understanding of the behavior of mentally or developmentally disabled clients.
Special Personal Characteristics
An interest and willingness to work in a State hospital; emotional stability; willingness, as a trainee, to do routine or detailed work; patience, tolerance, tact, alertness, neat personal appearance; hearing and vision required for successful job performance.
Drug Testing Requirement
Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement.
