DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES

Address:  501 N. 24th Street Phoenix, AZ  85008

Salary: $17.3350 

Grade: 17

This position is eligible for a $5,000 hiring incentive.

The Transportation Specialist is a subcategory of the mental health program specialist, with the primary task of facilitating the safe transportation and escorting of patients and residents of the Arizona State Hospital/ACPTC to and from medical and other appointments required during their course of treatment, as well as other tasks associated with the documentation, vehicles and equipment required to accomplish this movement. These transportation events also include certain legal appointments such as outside court dates, occasionally outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The position also requires active participation in the retrieval of patients on conditional release to the community who must be returned to the hospital campus due to compensation, as well as active participation in the retrieval of patients/residents attempting to leave the facility without authorization.

Additionally, Transportation Specialists are required to perform in the capacity of unit based BHT staff; providing direct patient care co-facilitate group activities, escort to groups, encourage patients to participate in active treatment, and assisting with daily living skills along with monitoring patients for safety and providing additional support on units or common areas as assigned or when there are gaps of time in the transportation schedule. Provide training in new employee orientation classes on transport safety device and educate unit staff daily on the proper use of transport safety device and monitoring forms. Will offer monthly in-service on radios transport safety devises along with wanding and pat downs.

• Facilitates the safe transportation and escorting of patients/residents to and from scheduled and emergency medical and legal appointments.
• Assists with clinic scheduling activities.
  
• Participates in Crisis Intervention activities.
  
• Represents the Arizona State Hospital and the State of Arizona in a professional manner to the public while maintaining the safety of patients/residents in the course of escorting/transporting individuals to outside medical providers and court facilities.
  
• Completes the execution of court ordered retrieval of patients/residents off campus who are in a crisis situation.
  
• Observes and otherwise monitors on-campus patient safety, assists in the facilitation of the therapeutic milieu, monitors special precautions and documents interventions according to policy and standard of care.
  
• Communicates observations appropriately with the treatment team and participates in continuing education.
  
• Maintains vehicle logs, transport safety devices, "escape flyers" or other documentation pertinent to the job function.
  
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.
  

• Basic mental health principles, therapeutic interactions and boundaries, patient rights, infection prevention, performance improvement process.
  
• Basic computer operations and related hardware/software required to perform job requirements.
  
• Proper telephone and radio communication techniques.
  
• Motor vehicle laws, court etiquette, patient rights.
  
• Emergency procedures
  
• Performance Management (PM), and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Lean methodologies.
  
• Basic physical assessment, application and monitoring of transportation safety devices.
  
• Operation of required equipment and vehicles, including: transport safety devices, regular and wheelchair vans, wheelchairs, radios, computer hardware, and other items which may be required by the job function.
  
• Patient de-escalation techniques and general safety practices.
  
• Demonstrate flexibility in scheduling, and in adapting to frequent changes in assignment to adapt to the changing needs of a diverse population.
  
• Adapt to changes in patient condition/compliance while in a public venue, and respond to such changes in a safe and appropriate fashion.
  
• Maintain vehicle records as required
  
• Complete appropriate documentation and record keeping both accurately and in a timely fashion.
  
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations.
  
• Interact professionally with outside medical providers, as well as law enforcement/courts when required.
  
• Learn additional skills, software, or hardware use which may be required to generate improvements in the performance of patient care & transport.
  
• Support a diverse multi-cultural workforce that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of public employment, and creates an inclusive work environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination.
  

• Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, counseling with an emphasis in clinical work, and three years of experience in the care and treatment of the mentally ill, developmentally disabled or physically ill and/or incapacitated patients.
  

• A State hospital employee must possess a valid level one fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to A.RS. 41-1758.07 or must apply for a level one clearance fingerprint clearance card within seven working days after beginning employment.
  
• Must possess a valid Arizona State Driver's License and obtain a State of Arizona Van Certification, including wheelchair van.
  
• Must currently possess or acquire CPR certification
  

• Affordable medical and dental insurance plans
  
• Paid vacation and sick time
  
• 10 paid holidays per year
  
• Wellness program and plans
  
• Life insurance
  
• Short/long-term disability insurance
  
• Defined retirement plan
  
• Award winning Infant at Work program
  
• Credit union membership
  
• Transit subsidy
  
• ADHS Student Assistance Pilot Program

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

To help you build a financially secure future, the State makes monthly contributions to finance your retirement benefit. The State will make a contribution to the ASRS in an amount equal to your contribution. In other words, you and the State will each pay 50% of the total cost of the benefit. New State employees have a 27 week wait period for contributions to begin.

Arizona State Government is an EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 220-6462. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. DHS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.