Schedule is lightly flexible 11-7 or 10-6
CLASS TITLE
Psychiatric Attendant
JOB DUTIES IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: (These duties are illustrative only. Incumbents may perform some or
all of these duties or other job-related duties as assigned.)
Provides on-ward security functions over forensic patients or residents of secure-care areas of mental health institution
(e.g., provides on-ward surveillance in regards to safety & security; escorts patient s to & from off-ward activities or
appointments such as meals, dentist, laboratory, work d etails, recreational & therapeutic activities; investigates patient
misbehavior; observes & monitors patient behavior such as during meals; intervenes during crisis behavior to prevent selfinjury or injury to others such as by applying restraints or assisting nursing staff in subduing or secluding violent patients;
monitors patients in seclusion; seClienthes patient cl othing, individual rooms & ward living area fo r dangerous objects,
contraband or unusual room conditions; prevents patient escapes). In the Client of Mental Health this class is only
used in the Timothy B. Moritz Forensic Unit at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare.
Provides direct ca re, treatment &/or prog rams to forensic patients & pro motes activities, on & off-wa rd, through
participation, interaction &/or involvement with patients (e.g., attends to personal hygiene & grooming needs by monitoring
& instructing treatment plan pro grams such as hy giene, clothing care, room maintenance & social di ning programs;
encourages independent functioning in same; monitors &/or instructs or assists patients in washing clothes; conducts oneto-one sessions with patients to discuss problems or concerns; provides adequate clothing; serves meal trays; assists in
administering treatments as directed by LPN or RN; prepares patients to attend psychiatric or medical treatment; bathes,
shaves, feeds &/or dresses patients who are unable to perform same; leads patients in recreational activities) & assists
co-workers in maintaining sanitary living conditions by performing general housekeeping duties (e.g., cleans floors, picks
up trash, bags laundry).
Prepares reports &/or d ocumentation regarding patient & unit activities (e.g., documents significant, unusual or
appropriate patient behavior in progress notes as dictated by individual treatment plans; completes restraint/seclusion,
daily ward log, daily shift change & incident rep orts; completes work orders; orders & stocks patient clot hing & cleaning
supplies; prepares patient movement reports; keeps unit communication logs updated; documents crisis interventions).
Attends in-service training programs; attends & pa rticipates in i nterdisciplinary team mee tings; attends weekly staff
meetings.
Responds to patient needs in emergency situations (e.g., fires or riots).
MAJOR WORKER CHARACTERISTICS:
Knowledge of agency & h ospital policies & procedures related to forensic client/patient care; ward security for forensic
patients; client custodial care; addition & subtracti on. Ability to re cognize unusual or threatening conditions & take
appropriate action; deal with problems involving se veral variables within familiar context; read sh ort sentences with
concrete vocabulary.
()Developed after employment.
MINIMUM CLASS QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
Formal education in arithmetic that includes addition & subtraction & in reading & writin g common English vocabulary.
(Pursuant to a Fede ral Court Order, individual hired into th is class at Oa kwood Forensic Center must be high school
graduate or G.E.D.)
-Or equivalent of the Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSIFICATION AFTER EMPLOYMENT:
Not applicable.
UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
Exposed to unpredictable patient behavior; works shifts, weekends & holidays; exposed to communicable diseases;
