Unit Supervisor (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under direction, at developmental centers, State hospitals, Psychiatric Programs, or correctional facilities, incumbents supervise psychiatric technician and related nursing staff; administer the routine psychiatric and developmental nursing services of a unit; coordinate the work and the staff of a unit and work as a liaison between unit staff on different shifts; train and develop shift leads and instruct level-of-care nursing personnel in nursing, habilitation, and rehabilitation techniques for developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; and do other related work.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Incumbents in this class are responsible for the continuous management and supervision of a unit offering routine and supportive nursing services as well as behavioral and psychiatric aspects of nursing on a 24-hour basis to developmentally or mentally disordered offenders. This class is distinguished from the Supervising Registered Nurse classifications in that incumbents do not manage or supervise units where medical, surgical, or neurological nursing techniques are regularly required or offered on the unit, or where there is a formal requirement for the use of a Registered Nurse as a Unit Supervisor. This class is distinguished from Unit Supervisor by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client or patient population and the security features of the facility.
Typical Tasks
Incumbents direct all routine psychiatric and developmental nursing activities of unit staff and provide for total nursing care to developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; are responsible for the implementation of habilitation, rehabilitation, and nursing plans of care for each forensic client, patient, or inmate; cooperate with other treatment team members to plan and coordinate a total treatment plan for each forensic client, patient, or inmate on the unit; promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients; supervise the administration of treatments, medicines, and the preparation of accurate descriptive records; identify and study nursing service and forensic client, patient, or inmate care problems and work to correct them; schedule and direct the activities of nursing service personnel assigned to a level-of-care unit during a 24-hour period; orient, teach, counsel, and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel; promote individual staff development; maintain good working relationships with forensic clients, patients, inmates, visitors, and members of the treatment team; investigate and adjust or recommend solutions to complaints from forensic clients, patients, inmates, visitors, or unit staff; are responsible for procuring, storing, and establishing unit inventory standards for medicines, solutions, supplies, and equipment; account for narcotics and dangerous drugs; are responsible for carrying out administrative procedures required by developmental center, State hospital, Psychiatric Program, or correctional facility policies and practices; may assist in developing nursing services budget and personnel needs for the unit; prepare or direct the preparation of records and reports; observe and intervene in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior; supervise and, as needed, assist subordinate staff in: counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting forensic clients', patients', or inmates' mail and living areas for hazardous contraband; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt; and escorting forensic clients, patients, or inmates to other areas of the facility.
Minimum Qualifications
Either I
Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a professional Registered Nurse in California as determined by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
Or II
Possession of a valid license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technicians. and Experience: One year of experience performing the duties of a nursing classification comparable in level of responsibility to a Registered Nurse, Range B or Senior Psychiatric Technician classification in the direction of the nursing services for a California developmental center, State hospital, Psychiatric Program, or correctional facility level-of-care unit during a shift.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Fundamental nursing care and pharmacology; legal aspects of patient care; general psychiatric nursing theory and practices; techniques in the care and treatment of developmentally or mentally disabled, or developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; principles and practices of ward or unit management; principles and techniques of effective supervision; a supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Ability to: Supervise the work of level-of-care personnel; establish cooperative working relationships between various disciplines; manage a developmental center, State hospital, Psychiatric Program, or correctional facility level-of-care unit; follow directions; analyze situations accurately and take prompt, effective action; keep records; develop clear and concise reports; and effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work at developmental centers, State hospitals, Psychiatric Programs, or correctional facilities; demonstrated leadership ability; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; tact; patience; and emotional stability.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.