Typical Tasks
Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
Participate in recreational activities with patients, including card games, sports, or television viewing.
Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
Organize, supervise, or encourage patient participation in social, educational, or recreational activities.
Maintain patients' restrictions to assigned areas.
A day in the life
What kind of work is this?
Social
Working with people
Investigative
Studying, Research based work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work
What personality traits do you need to succeed?
Concern for Others
Stress Tolerance
Self-Control
Dependability
Cooperation
Social Orientation
What key skills are needed for this job?
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Active Listening
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Expected Knowledge
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Common Activities
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
