Therapeutic Technician

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a Therapeutic Technician to join the team at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI). This is a full-time position with a Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. schedule (subject to change according to departmental needs).

CMHI provides active inpatient treatment to adults in need of acute psychiatric care. The facility offers several services including individualized treatment plans. Support for patients with special education needs to continue their education is provided, and individuals are encouraged to collaborate with staff members in formulating their own plan. Medication, group counseling, and activities therapies might be included as well. If you enjoy helping adults and families connect with mental health and disabilities services, this is a great opportunity to consider.

Duties

The Therapeutic Technician serves an important role in supporting the vital operations of the Food Service department. Some of the daily duties of this position include:

• Filing and maintaining diet prescriptions by doctors and nursing personnel under supervision.
• Preparing and typing daily menus for special diets and charting quantities required.
• Helping to make changes in prescribed diets as authorized.
• Writing modified and therapeutic diets according to established patterns and a simplified diet manual while also checking for accuracy.
• Requisitioning supplies, groceries, and equipment.
• Instructing and providing consultation in food service activities.
• Coordinating the functions of the therapeutic area in the absence of the supervisor.
  
  

Knowledge of special diets (including religion-based), basic principles of nutrition and food values, terminology used by medical staff in diet prescriptions are helpful as a Therapeutic Technician. This position is best for someone who is committed to quality service, displays a high level of commitment toward completing assignments efficiently, works with minimal supervision, demonstrates responsible behavior and attention to detail, aligns behavior with the needs, priorities, and goals of the organization, encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity, and fosters commitment and team spirit.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

We Have a Great Total Compensation Package, Including

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
  
  

For Additional Information On Benefits Click Here .

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Cherokee Highlights

CMHI is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River which winds through town providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa .

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Two years of journey level food preparation experience in cooking, baking, ingredient preparation or work comparable in score and level to that indicated above in a commercial, military, or institutional setting;

OR

any equivalent combination of education and experience substituting college work in dietetics, nutrition, or food management, or a closely related field for the required experience on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two years;

OR

eighteen months of experience in the state classified service as a Cook 1, Baker 1, Ingredient Room Worker 1 shall be considered as qualifying.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.