Mental Health Assistant

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD. Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 08-06-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) Student Health Services (SHS) is a full-service medical facility offering UCSC students clinical, educational, and psychological support. SHS is deeply committed to ensuring affordable, well-integrated, multidisciplinary healthcare that effectively supports the university's diverse campus communities through equitable access and culturally competent, high-quality programs and services.

The Primary Care Program includes primary care and same-day care, with the support of on-site radiology, a COLA-accredited high-complexity clinical laboratory, and a campus pharmacy. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) supports UCSC students to maintain or improve their general well-being by providing a broad range of counseling, psychiatric services, consultation, and outreach services and programs.

Other areas include Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), home of the Condom Co-op; CARE (Center for Advocacy, Resources & Empowerment), the advocacy and prevention education office that supports survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/domestic violence; and Student Insurance Programs.

Student Health Services employs approximately 150 staff including physicians, psychiatrists, case managers, lab scientists, pharmacists, nurses, radiologists, and many other clinical and administrative staff. SHS welcomes staff with interest and experience in working with students with a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and gender identities.

More information can be found at: https://caps.ucsc.edu

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), guided by the policies of the Student Health Services and CAPS, and in collaboration with psychiatric staff, the Mental Health Assistant assists in the delivery of care to clients in Counseling, Psychological, Psychiatric Services, and the RISE clinic.

The Mental Health Assistant greets and schedules clients, provides information on services and campus resources, and performs office-related functions that ensure the delivery of mental health services in CAPS, Psychiatry, and the RISE Clinic. In addition, the Mental Health Assistant measures vital signs, answers phone call requests for psychiatric medications and services, checks CURES reports, assists with prior authorizations, performs electrocardiograms (EKGs), and gives intramuscular (IM) injections of vitamins or long-acting medications. All pertinent clinical interactions in person or on the telephone are documented clearly and thoroughly in the electronic medical record.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $28.87/hourly
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Patient Care Technical (EX)

Job Code Classification: HOSP BLANK AST 3 (009251)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

60% - Patient Care

• Greets and receives students in need of mental health services in CAPS, Psychiatry, and the RISE clinic. Accurately completes registration of clients. Schedules and cancels clinical appointments.
• Answers incoming phone calls and questions and directs callers to the appropriate resource. Relays telephone messages accurately and in a timely manner
• Provides support to distressed patients in the CAPS and RISE clinic waiting room following protocol.
• Documents pertinent health-related information and history, as instructed.
• Measures vital signs: pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, orthostatic blood pressure, weight and height. Records the patient's medical history, vital statistics, and information such as test results in medical records.
• Accurately assesses students' needs for purposes of follow-up appointments, lab, referral, and direction to other areas of Student Health Services.
• Reinforces the recommendations and instructions of psychiatric providers after the visit. This involves understanding the medication and the behavioral recommendation and helping the student follow through with the recommendations and instructions as ordered.
• Performs EKGs at the Student Health Center.
• Performs Intra Muscular (IM) injections of vitamins and long-acting psychotropic medications, when ordered.
• Monitors patients undergoing esketamine treatment.
• Performs clinical activities in an accurate and timely manner.
• Gathers pertinent psychiatric information, when clients call with requests for medications or psychiatric services, following a standard set of questions as ordered by the Director of Psychiatry.
• Assists clients with getting their medication refills. Gathers information from the client, the electronic medical record, and pharmacies, and provides the gathered information to the prescribing provider. Serves as an intermediary between clinicians and pharmacies to clarify information, answer questions, and provide information.
• Maintains confidentiality of clients/patients in all interactions while facilitating the necessary transfer of information and relays confidential information in an efficient manner to the appropriate persons.
• Assists patients getting primary care medical treatment at the Student Health Center. Directs and escorts patients as needed, and ensures their safety. Assures that clients leaving the area have appropriate instructions, forms, and referral information.
• Provides information regarding CAPS, Psychiatry, and RISE services to campus units, staff and faculty, and friends and family members of UCSC students.
• Complies with all departmental and UCSC policies and procedures, including but not limited to infection control, safety, administrative, and clinical practice.
• Understands and adheres to all HIPAA and FERPA regulations.
• Maintains awareness of medical-legal and risk management aspects, including HIPPA guidelines, by utilizing judgment in the performance of duties.

30% - Clinical Collaboration and Coordination

• Documents patient care interactions and duties performed, such as EKGs, scheduling of evaluations, and completion of electronic psychological tests, such as the TOVA, which the Mental Health Assistant also administers and monitors.
• Coordinates Psychiatry Peer Review process with the Director of Psychiatry.
• Coordinates care with off-campus mental health providers as directed.
• Makes return calls to patients and pharmacies as directed by clinician, which requires knowledge of various lab tests and common medications.
• Attends staff meetings and keeps abreast of current issues when not able to attend. Actively participates in discussion of problem identification and resolution.
• Participates in various quality improvement and customer service initiatives upon request.
• Answers questions for providers and other staff and assists with clinical office flow and provider requests as appropriate.
• Brings concerns or potential problems involving students, staff, and front office operations to the Director and Administrative Supervisor.

10% - Clinical Support

• Assists the Directors of CAPS and Psychiatry in non-clinical duties such as interviews, annual reports, unit manuals, etc.
• Serves as an active participant in relevant and assigned Student Health Services and CAPS committees.
• Builds and amends clinician templates.
• Creates, updates, and maintains various logs and reports to track work and student utilization.
• Instructs staff in tasks needed in the CAPS and Psychiatry departments utilizing positive communication skills.
• Provides support to other teams in Student Health Services if needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from high school (or GED) and appropriate experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Current Medical Assistant or Psychiatric Technician certificate
• Experience working with clients with mental health needs
• Experience in health care, medical, or clinic office setting
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to accurately relay medical information to patients
• Ability to understand and follow written protocols for patient care
• Ability to write clear and professional emails/secure messages
• Demonstrated advanced utilization of medical terminology
• Demonstrated strong commitment to delivering high quality care
• To administer injections, must have written evidence of validation for training and competence in medication administration by injecting and skin testing
• Excellent customer service skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure
• Ability to communicate clearly and calmly with patients in distress
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner; ability to resolve conflict and work effectively with patients and co-workers in times of stress or conflicts
• Ability to organize, coordinate and complete projects effectively and with deadlines; demonstrates skill at prioritizing work
• Respect for diversity of the student population; demonstrated sensitivity to ethnic culture and life style diversity
• Must understand and comply with HIPAA and all regulations regarding the confidentiality of medical records
• Demonstrated literacy with EMR (electronic medical record) systems and patient tracking; ability to act as a resource to others
• Demonstrated experience and skill with PCs, Windows, Word, Excel, internet resources and electronic mail

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience on a college or university campus
• Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of the diverse patient groups served in student college health
• At least two years of work experience in a mental health setting

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Current Medical Assistant or Psychiatric Technician certificate.
• Must possess a current CPR certificate.
• Selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-hire criminal history background check and a pre-hire credentialing check.
• Selected candidate will be required to take a TB test within 60 days of hire.
• Complete HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act) training within 30 days of hire.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The selected candidate will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Comply with current Student Health Center employee health and safety requirements for health care workers as defined by state and federal regulatory agencies; current health and safety requirements to be discussed during interview.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hUBiz3WS3zErEGOhSOu7KZZPzGkTwr_2/view?usp=sharing. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination