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 Shapiro Center located in Kankakee, Illinois. The incumbent will, for a period of time from six and not to exceed twelve months, receives training and instruction and performs entry level, routine personal care services, educational, social, vocational and therapeutic activities in the treatment and habilitation of intellectually disabled individuals at Shapiro Center. Attends formal classes for instruction in routine nursing practices and techniques to gain basic understanding in nature, cause, treatment and habilitation of intellectual disabilities. Ensures compliance with Illinois Department of Public Health requirements when performing duties.  

Essential Functions

35%

1. For a period from six and not to exceed twelve months, receives training and instruction and performs entry level, routine personal care services, educational, social, vocational and therapeutic activities in the treatment and habilitation of intellectually disabled individuals at Shapiro Center.

• Actively participates in classroom and on-the-job training classes. 
• 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.
• Attends formal classes for instruction in routine nursing practices and techniques to gain basic understanding in nature, cause, treatment, and habilitation of intellectual disabilities.
• Ensures compliance with Illinois Department of Public Health 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 in regard to 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.
• Travels in performance of job duties.

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 a safe, clean, and orderly unit by performing general housekeeping tasks, such as spot mopping, cleaning spills, wiping tables and making of beds and lifting up 50 pounds.

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 the Individual or others.

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

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

5. Requires the ability to travel in the performance of job duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.

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.