MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN TRAINEE

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Position Overview

The Division of Developmental Disabilities is seeking to hire a Mental Health Technician Trainee at the Choate Mental Health & Dev. Center located in Anna, Illinois. The incumbent will, for a period of time from six and not to exceed twelve months, receive instruction and training in providing care for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Attends formal classes for instruction in routine nursing practices and techniques to gain basic understanding in nature, cause, treatment and habilitation of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ensures compliance with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requirements when performing duties.

Essential Functions

35%

1. For a period of time from six and not to exceed twelve months, receive instruction and training in providing care for individuals with developmental disabilities on an assigned shift.

• Actively participates in classroom and on-the-job training classes. 
• Attends formal classes for instruction in routine nursing practices and techniques to gain basic understanding in nature, cause, treatment, and habilitation of intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
• Receives training and provides physical support, with personal care services for individuals in bathing/showering, personal grooming, personal hygiene, clothing selection and dining skills.
• Adjusts the application of individuals physical needs, specific to his/her age and development. 
• Intervenes in the threat of injury, receives training, and assists under direct observation, in the implementation of behavior management procedures including verbal and physical intervention procedures, redirection, escorting, exclusionary time out, restraints, etc. and completes related documentation. 
• Ensures compliance with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requirements when performing duties.

30%

2. Receives training in the Interdisciplinary Team process and assists under direct observation, in the implementation of the active treatment/daily activity schedule on the programmatic unit. 

• Escorts individuals on and off campus for vocational and recreational activities, appointments, etc. 
• Under direct observation, ensures protection of individual rights regarding clothing, personal items, choice, preferences, privacy, etc.
• Monitors and provides constant supervision to individuals. 
• Communicates observations of individual’s progress to staff and documents progress in the individual’s active treatment plan or other designated records. 
• Implements prescribed behavior intervention plans for individuals.

25%

3. Through direct observation, achieves familiarity with each individual’s sensory, medical and physical condition.

• Communicates to supervisor any changes in behavior, physical being, unusual incidents etc.
• Completes forms/reports, progress notes, etc. in a timely manner.

• Physically restrains individuals as necessary to prevent injury to the individual or others.
• In performance of job duties, works after business hours, weekends and holidays.

5%

4. Maintains area in a safe, clean, and orderly condition.

• Performs simple housekeeping functions lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Prepares unit and individual reports. 
• Travels in performance of job duties.

5%

5. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of high school.

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
2. Requires the ability to physically restrain individuals as necessary to prevent injury to individual or others.

3. Requires the ability to work after business hours, weekends, and holidays.

4. Requires ability to utilize office equipment, including personal computers.

5. Requires the ability to travel.  

6. Requires ability to pass the IDHS background check.

7. Requires ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois Law.

*The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.