Psychiatric Technician Assistant (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: TL56
Class Code: 8236
Established: 04/04/2000
Revised: --
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under supervision at developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services in a program providing care to forensic clients, patients, or inmates who are developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; assist licensed direct-care staff by participating in the rehabilitation/habilitation treatment programs for forensic clients, patients, or inmates with developmental or mental disabilities; assist forensic clients, patients, or inmates in developing and utilizing their potential for self-care and activities of daily life; and do other related work for which training has been received.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The Psychiatric Technician Assistant (Safety) class is a permanent classification designed to provide basic level-of-care habilitative treatment services to forensic clients, patients, or inmates including: psychosocial activities, behavioral management, training, care, supervision, and other related work functions including assisting in helping forensic clients, patients, or inmates to achieve their maximum potential for self-care and activities of daily life which can successfully be done by nonlicensed staff. Prior to working with forensic clients, patients, or inmates, the Psychiatric Technician Assistant (Safety) receives 16 hours of orientation and training. To continue employment, incumbents must complete a 40-hour in-service training program within 60 calendar days of appointment.
This class is distinguished from Psychiatric Technician (Safety) by the performance of nonlicensed activities. Incumbents in the class of Psychiatric Technician (Safety) are licensed and perform duties which include: administering medications or treatment; developing individual behavior programs, habilitation plans, nursing care plans, and forensic client, patient, or inmate assessment; entering written progress notes in the forensic clients', patients', or inmates' records; and receiving and noting medical orders. This class is distinguished from Psychiatric Technician Assistant by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client, patient, or inmate population and the security features of the facility.
Appointments to other nonlicensed Psychiatric Technician classes are made on a limited-term basis.
Typical Tasks
Incumbents assist licensed staff with custody tasks, which include: searching for drugs, contraband, and weapons; counting, distributing, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting forensic clients', patients', or inmates' mail and living areas for hazardous contraband; inspecting the facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may injure people, damage property, or signal an impending escape attempt; and escorting forensic clients, patients, or inmates to other areas of the facility.
Incumbents assist licensed staff in carrying out activity and training programs for developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; assist forensic clients, patients, or inmates with feeding, toilet skills, grooming, and appearance; help keep forensic clients, patients, or inmates and their clothing, beds, and living areas clean; assist and motivate forensic clients, patients, or inmates to develop self-reliance in daily living; assist in group and individual activities for forensic clients, patients, or inmates; assist in occupational, leisure, recreational, vocational, and educational training programs for forensic clients, patients, or inmates; assist with providing community-based training for forensic clients, patients, or inmates; escort forensic clients, patients, or inmates as needed; perform basic nursing duties, such as taking and recording vital signs, and measuring and recording intake and output, height, and weight; attend unit and staff conferences to develop an understanding of and reasons for treatment being given; and, under the direct supervision of a licensed staff and after receiving appropriate training, may assist with observing forensic clients, patients, or inmates in time out, restraint, or on special observation.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade. and Possession of a valid certificate issued by the California Department of Health Services to practice as a Certified Nursing Assistant. [Enrollment in a Psychiatric Technician training program or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program will allow applicants admittance into the examination, but they cannot be appointed until they posses a valid CNA certificate issued by the California Department of Health Services.]
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Basic nursing care methods and techniques.
Ability to: Apply basic level-of-care services to forensic clients, patients, and inmates; analyze situations accurately; take effective action; follow directions and communicate effectively in English.
Special Personal Characteristics
An interest and willingness to work in developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; emotional stability; patience; tact; alertness; neat personal appearance; and hearing and vision required for successful job performance.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.
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.
