Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 5, 1999

Definition of Series

This series specification describes two classes used in the Department of Mental Health contracting with California Department of Corrections' facilities. Incumbents perform tasks involved in the medical or psychiatric care of inmates-patients; maintain order and supervise the conduct of inmates-patients; protect and maintain the safety of persons and property; provide a basic level of general behavioral psychiatric nursing care to inmates-patients who are mentally disordered offenders; participate in the overall psychiatric treatment program; and do other related work.

This series of classes is distinguished from the Medical Technical Assistant (Correctional Facility) and Senior Medical Technical Assistant by the need for psychiatric treatment skills in addition to their responsibilities for the custody and supervision of inmates-patients. Incumbents in the Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric) series help create a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment for inmates-patients and apply mental health principles in all relationships with inmates-patients.

Job Description

Incumbents develop, encourage participation in, and supervise group and treatment activities for inmates-patients; assist rehabilitation therapists in leisure skills and other therapeutic programs for inmates-patients; motivate and assist inmates-patients with activities of daily living; follow safe work practices; protect inmates-patients and others from personal injury; and assist in the training of other Medical Technical Assistants (Psychiatric) and other ancillary staff.

Incumbents work with other disciplines as part of the interdisciplinary treatment team to provide an overall treatment program for the inmate-patient. Incumbents perform nursing procedures such as administering medication, including oral medication and hypodermic injections; observing inmates'-patients' physical conditions and behaviors and reporting significant changes to a supervising registered nurse, a registered nurse, or a physician; recording nursing notes in the inmates'-patients' records; preparing and caring for inmates-patients during treatments; and giving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation as needed.

Incumbents also escort inmates-patients within the facility; search for contraband; inspect inmates'-patients' mail for contraband; observe and intervene in inmate-patient behavior that may injure people or damage property; and assist custodial staff during emergency situations such as fights, attempted escapes, or major incidents such as riots.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Independence of action, the extent of supervision received or exercised, and level of administrative and supervisory responsibilities.

Definition of Levels

Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric)

This is the full journey level. Incumbents work under general supervision and in addition to their custody responsibilities, provide a basic level of general behavioral and psychiatric nursing care. Incumbents are expected through their attitude, knowledge, and performance to facilitate the rehabilitation of inmates-patients. Incumbents may assist in the training of Medical Technical Assistants (Psychiatric) and other ancillary staff.

Senior Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric)

This is the first supervisory level in the series. As shift supervisors, incumbents supervise, train, and evaluate a group of Medical Technical Assistants (Psychiatric) engaged in custody activities and basic behavioral and nursing care, and other assigned staff. Incumbents may also be assigned to especially difficult or complex duties where the only supervision exercised is over inmates-patients, such as directing or monitoring inmate-patient activities in a therapy program.

Minimum Qualifications

Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric)

Education: Graduation from high school, passing the General Educational Development test indicating high school graduation level, passing the California High School Proficiency Examination, or having attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. The high school shall be either a United States public school meeting the high school standards set by the state in which it is located, an accredited United States Department of Defense high school, or an accredited nonpublic high school. Any accreditation required by this paragraph shall be from an accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(e). and Either I Possession of a valid license from the State of California to practice as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse. (Applicants who are within six months of completing their academic training as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse will be admitted to the examination, but must obtain a valid license from the State of California to practice as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse to be eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Twelve months of experience rendering patient care while on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces of the United States or in the United States Public Health Service and completion of the basic course of instruction in nursing required by the United States Public Health Service or by his or her particular branch of the armed forces. (Persons qualifying under this pattern must be eligible at the time of appointment for licensure as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse, and must obtain a State of California license within six months of employment as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse.)

Senior Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric)

Possession of a valid license from the State of California to practice as a Psychiatric Technician, a Licensed Vocational Nurse, or a Registered Nurse. and Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric) or a Medical Technical Assistant (Correctional Facility).

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Fundamentals of nursing care, general behavioral, and psychiatric procedures; inmate-patient behavior and mental health principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individual or groups of mentally disordered inmates-patients; current first aid methods; medical terminology; pharmacology; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Management of Assaultive Behavior techniques; custody procedures; public property protection policies; hospital procedures.

Ability to: Learn and apply sound judgment in situations including the protection of persons and property; apply basic nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes; establish effective therapeutic relationships with mentally disordered inmates-patients; recognize systems requiring medical or psychiatric attention; think and act quickly in emergencies; work with a treatment team to provide structured leisure activities for inmates-patients; follow directions; communicate effectively; keep appropriate records; develop clear and concise reports of incidents; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; control, direct, and instruct inmates-patients individually or in groups.

Senior Medical Technical Assistant (Psychiatric)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of effective supervision; equal opportunity in hiring; employee development and promotion; principles of discrimination and harassment prevention.

Ability to: All of the above, and prepare reports and provide statistical data; supervise the work and development of others; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Special Personal Characteristics

Neat personal appearance; adaptability; emotional maturity and stability; tact; patience; sympathetic and objective understanding of persons under restraint; leadership ability; willingness to work irregular hours and report for duty at any time due to an emergency; hearing and vision required for successful job performance; sound physical condition; and strength, endurance, and agility.

Assignments during a shift may include sole responsibility for the supervision of inmates-patients or the protection of personal and real property.

Age Limitation

All Levels:

Minimum age for appointment is 21 years.

Peace Officer Standards

All Levels:

Citizenship Requirement: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(a), in order to be appointed to a peace officer position, a person must be either a U.S. Citizen or be a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. Citizenship. Any permanent resident alien who is employed as a peace officer shall be disqualified from holding that position if his or her application for citizenship is denied.

Felony Disqualification: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1029, persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers except as provided under Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 1179(b), or Division 2.5, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1772(b). Except as provided for by these statutes, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in these classes.

Background Investigation: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons successful in peace officer examinations shall be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment. Persons who have previously undergone a background investigation may be required to undergo an additional background investigation.

Training Requirement: Under provisions of Penal Code Section 832, successful completion of a training course is a requirement for permanent status in these classifications.

Drug Testing Requirement: Applicants for positions in these classes are required to pass a drug-screening test. (The drug-screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated "sensitive" class for which drug testing is required under State Personnel Board Rule 213.)

Class History

* NOTE: This was adopted as an SPB Staff Calendar Item.