PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN (EXTRA-HELP)

Salary: $19.50 - $23.71 hourly

Per Diem: +10%; Night Shift: +17%; Evening Shift: + 5%;

THE FACILITY AND YOUR ASSIGNMENT: The Inpatient Psychiatric services program is a locked acute psychiatric facility serving the entire Sonoma County area with a multi-disciplinary staff of mental health professionals. It provides a supportive milieu including individual, group, family, and occupational therapy; and related social services. The Psychiatric Technician provides nursing care and counseling to a patient population that includes both acute and chronic mentally ill adults.

INTERMITTENT, EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYEES ARE NOT IN THE CLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE AND DO NOT HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS TO PERMANENTLY ALLOCATED POSITIONS. IN ADDITION, THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SUCH AS: MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE; ACCRUAL OF VACATION AND SICK LEAVE; PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTY RETIREMENT PROGRAM; OR ELIGIBILITY TO TAKE PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS. INTERMITTENT, EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYEES ARE LIMITED IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT TO A MAXIMUM OF 1,380 HOURS WITHIN ANY TWELVE-MONTH CONSECUTIVE PERIOD.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, some experience dealing with mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients would provide such opportunity.

License: Possession of a current California license as a Psychiatric Technician. Please provide your license number on your application. Be prepared to provide a copy of your current California Psychiatric Technician's license if requested at later stages of the selection process.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position, may be required for some assignments.

Ability to work any shifts assigned, including weekends and holidays.

Considerable knowledge of: nursing theory and practice, hospital rules, regulations, and procedures; standard practices used in caring for the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; medical vocabulary adequate for understanding all instructions and orders which might properly be received by a Psychiatric Technician; and nursing equipment, its care, and use.

Ability to: apply routine and psychiatric nursing care to mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; exercises patience and some initiative and judgment in recognizing symptoms indicative of adverse patient reactions; follow oral and written directions of a technical and professional nature in exact detail; maintain and interpret nursing records and reports; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other hospital and clinic personnel; apply a reasonable degree of exertion occasionally in restraining overactive patients; stand and walk for long periods of time and work under mental and physical strain.

This selection procedure will consist of an application appraisal (weight 100%). Each application will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational course work, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on a temporary employment list and referred to the department for consideration.

Candidates referred for possible appointment may be required to sign a waiver enabling a private investigator to check into the applicant's employment and/or personal history. The background check may include criminal and civil filings, address verification, social security verification, driving history, any professional license mentioned, secondary education, employment history and reference development, credit history, and financial information related to bankruptcy, liens, and judgments. Failure to sign the waiver may result in the application not being considered further. Background information obtained will not be made available to candidates.

Applications are accepted on-line through the County of Sonoma website (www.sonoma-county.org) or the website of www.governmentjobs.com. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax or through the mail. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

THE COUNTY OF SONOMA IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY AND ACTIVELY PURSUES A PROGRAM OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT AND NON-DISCRIMINATION.

Analyst: LV Assistant: kb