Crisis Bed Mental Health Technician

About Delaware Guidance Services

Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. (DGS) is the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO. In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach.


Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services. Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol. DGS' 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises. Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress-related disorders, and suicidal ideation. In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware. Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma-informed care extend to clients' siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers.


Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000. Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges including learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth

Why Work at Delaware Guidance Services?

DGS strives to build a collaborative, flexible, and client-focused work environment. Employee wellness is a top priority. In addition to offering flexible work arrangements, DGS offers a comprehensive and competitive employee benefits package including the following:

• Competitive Compensation
• Incentive Pay for Specific Roles
• Generous Paid Time Off (starting at 44 days of paid leave a year)
• Up to 6% Annual Contribution to Your Retirement Fund
• Free Professional Development Opportunities
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-term Disability Insurance

Summary/objective

Under the supervision of the Lead Crisis Bed Shift Supervisor, the Mental Health Technician is responsible for providing a variety of direct client care duties and unit support functions to children and adolescents with a wide variety of psychological and emotional problems (ie. aggressive and defiant behavior due to problems with emotion regulation, suicidal/homicidal ideation, plans, or attempts, family conflicts, etc.) to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients in a Crisis Bed setting. Mental Health Technicians are dedicated and committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate, and therapeutic client care. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for documentation of milieu and case management services provided from intake through discharge.

Essential functions:

Clinical Role in Crisis Bed Setting:

• Closely monitor clients and complete observation rounds using required safety protocols
• Implement a person-centered plan as identified, assist each individual in meeting the outcomes identified in the approved plan, and assure applicable supports are provided for each client
• Deliver solution-focused and trauma-informed interventions to maintain safety, build skills, and address problem solving, communication, and relationship conflicts
• Create an engaging unit milieu to maintain a therapeutic and safe environment with a goal to achieve high patient satisfaction
• Plan, prepare, and deliver group therapeutic activities for clients
• Use critical thinking and risk management skills when connecting with clients in Crisis Bed
• Understand warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide risk and risk of harm to others
• Maintain professional, trauma-informed, and empathetic interactions during interactions with children, families, and stakeholders
• Develop comprehensive skills providing support for children and youth in Crisis Bed

Functional Role in Crisis Bed Setting:

• Obtain groceries and prepare meals following planned menu
• Support in areas of daily living (prompt clients for completion of personal care including hygiene and self-administration of medication)
• Provide a clean, safe environment and safe delivery of care
• Provide education support
• Work respectfully and cooperatively together as a unified team member in a professional manner with other Crisis Bed staff, families, and community members
• Assume responsibility for professional development of self and contribute to and assist with the professional development of others

Case Management:

• Assure electronic documentation and verbal shift reports are completed accurately and timely before the end of each shift

General Responsibilities:

• Uphold professional standards of treatment and the mission of the organization
• Maintain a quality code of conduct, ethics and professionalism
• Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all stakeholders
• Assure compliance with all policies and procedures and licensing regulations
• Must successfully complete all agency required training within 30 days of employment and maintain timely applicable certification
• Must successfully complete refresher trainings within the identified timeframes

Competencies/ Capabilities:

• Reliability & Flexibility
• Customer Service
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment

Supervisory responsibilities: None

Work environment: Lewes, DE

Physical Demands:

• This position involves physical interventions, including the potential use of holds, and may require the ability to lift, carry, and assist clients as needed. The successful candidate must be physically capable of responding to challenging situations in a safe and controlled manner
• Frequent walking, standing, twisting, bending, squatting
• Proficient auditory and visual skills

Travel required: Travel for specific tasks

Minimum qualification:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record

Preferred qualification:

• Direct work experience leading groups, de-escalating behaviors, and managing multiple clinical diagnoses
• Experience working in an inpatient or residential/group home setting
• Bilingual

EEO:

Delaware Guidance Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer


Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Other duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.