Covenant Health

Team Leader Psychiatric Technician, Unit E Pathways

$5,500 Sign-on Bonus Available

Full Time, 72 Hours per pay period, Day Shift

Peninsula Overview:

Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center, has set a new standard for effective, innovative and caring mental health services in East Tennessee. With a combined total of more than 75 years of experience, Peninsula has helped thousands of people recover from disorders and dependencies, and lead healthy, positive and productive lives.

Offering both inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents and adults, Peninsula is a leader in the changing healthcare environment. The hospital is located in Blount County, with outpatient centers in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Sevier Counties. Additionally, Peninsula offers care specifically designed for seniors with co-existing psychiatric and medical conditions at the Senior Behavioral Center located at Parkwest Medical Center. Peninsula is truly committed to improving the health of the people and communities it serves.

Unit E:

The Women’s Unit is a 12-bed unit serving female adult patients. Patients treated on this unit are experiencing acute symptoms of their disease which require more intensive monitoring. The floor plan of the acute unit allows for this increased monitoring.  This is an exciting unit where you will be exposed to patients dealing with a variety of psychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, and disordered thoughts. Staff may also work on other units in the hospital, offering the opportunity to work with many different types of patients. The care team consists of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, therapists, discharge planners, registered nurses, psychiatric technicians, and others who work together to develop a comprehensive treatment outline and care plan.  Our goal is to provide excellent care for all our patients in a safe, therapeutic environment. This unit creates a 6-week schedule which is released two weeks before the schedule starts.  Staff preferences are considered and may be accommodated when they align with the overall staffing needs of the unit and facility.

Position Summary:

Provides quality patient care by giving direction, support, and guidance to the Psychiatric Technician as they carry out their responsibilities in the daily operation of the various programs.   

Recruiter: Brittany Partello || bpartell@CovHlth.com || (865) 374-5363

• Meets with the Nurse Manager on a regular basis for supervision, planning, and consultation on program/personnel/unit issues.
• Assists the Nurse Manager in communicating with other Hospital departments and staff members as needed to coordinate treatment activities.
• Works with the Nurse Manager in scheduling unit staff and providing adequate unit coverage as needed.
• Assists the Nurse Manager in maintaining the programs in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including licensure and the Joint Commission accreditation.
• Facilitates virtual court processes and communicates with unit staff as needed on applicable shifts.
• Informs the Nurse Manager of employee performance concerns and provides input for evaluations and/or disciplinary decisions.
• Meets with the Nursing Leadership Team on a regular basis to discuss program issues and concerns.
• Assists Nurse Manager and/or Nursing Supervisor with bed management and patient flow.
• Provides direction and guidance for the Psychiatric Technicians in staff/patient interactions.
• Assists with facilitating the transfer of a patient to another unit.
• Oversees the roles and responsibilities of the Psychiatric Technicians.
• Demonstrates and maintains competence in using therapeutic communication skills, small group dynamics, scheduled activities, and the therapeutic milieu to provide support.
• In a cohesive team approach works to minimize the use of restrictive measures with patients with a focus on least restrictive interventions. Responds to all patient safety alarms.
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff members as directed by the Nurse Manager. May act as preceptor for individual staff in orientation.
• Assists the Nursing Department in implementing and directing ongoing staff training and development sessions.
• Accompanies patients to other facilities for appointments, treatments, etc. as required.
• Local travel required.
• Maintains all necessary certifications and completes all mandatory assigned education in the specified time frames.
• Attends on regular basis staff meetings and development sessions in order to maintain and enhance job knowledge.
• Participates in facility committees and the design/implementation of patient care initiatives as directed by the Nurse Manager.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:         

Possesses a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Psychology, Social Science, Education, Sociology, Ethics, Health and some Humanities) In lieu of a college degree, significant treatment experience in a similar treatment setting will be considered.

Minimum Experience:         

Experience as a Psychiatric Technician, preferably operating at a level of a SR in this setting or comparable experience in a similar setting.

Licensure Requirements:    

Employee must have and maintain valid Tennessee driver’s license Class D with an “F” endorsement for up to 14 passenger vehicles, OR a Class “A”, “B”, or “C” with “P” endorsement for 15 passenger vehicles, depending on the driving needs of the facility. Employee must have and maintain state mandated minimum insurance coverage. Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at the date of hire and throughout employment tenure. CPR required.