Mental Health Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of nursing and program leadership, the Mental Health Technician (MHT) provides direct care, supervision, and support to adolescents receiving treatment within the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). The MHT is responsible for maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment while promoting patient safety, emotional well-being, and progress toward individualized treatment goals.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service

• Provide courteous, respectful, and responsive interactions with patients, families, visitors, and staff.
• Maintain professional boundaries and demonstrate therapeutic communication at all times.
• Respond promptly to patient needs, concerns, and requests while promoting a positive treatment experience.
• Support a welcoming, recovery-focused environment that reflects the organization's mission and values.
• Assist in resolving conflicts or concerns and appropriately escalate issues when necessary.
• Telephones are answered by the third ring whenever possible and a professional greeting. Dedicated extensions/mobile phones with voice mail have a personalized greeting, and messages retrieved/responded in a timely manner

Nursing Services

• Perform delegated patient care tasks, including obtaining and documenting vital signs, weight, intake/output, and other clinical observations within the scope of training.
• Observe patients for physical, emotional, and behavioral changes and promptly report concerns to nursing staff.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living, personal hygiene, and maintaining a clean-living environment.
• Support nursing staff during medication administration by monitoring patient flow and safety procedures.
• Accompany patients to medical appointments and participate in treatment team discussions by providing relevant patient observations.

Therapeutic Milieu

• Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic treatment environment for all patients.
• Provide continuous supervision of assigned patients and monitor patient whereabouts and activities.
• Facilitate patient engagement in therapeutic, educational, recreational, and daily living activities.
• Observe patient interactions and intervene appropriately to prevent conflict, unsafe behaviors, or treatment disruptions
• Utilize therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and approved crisis intervention methods during behavioral emergencies
• Conduct admission procedures, including patient orientation, belonging searches, and contraband prevention measures.
• Accurately document patient behaviors, participation, progress, and significant events in accordance with facility policies. 
• Promote positive coping skills, treatment participation, personal responsibility, and recovery-oriented behaviors.
• Other duties assigned by Milieu Director.

Skills:

• Generalized understanding of the more commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and possible side-effects i.e. detect and timely involve nursing personnel.
• Ability to apply cultural sensitivity and age specific competencies. 
• Effectively applies program approved policies and procedures. 
• Prepares documentation to give the most complete description of the patient’s response and functioning.
• Continuously alert to potential safety risks and unsafe conditions.
• Coordinate care within a multidisciplinary framework.  
• Working knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses, common psychotropic medications, and potential side effects, with the ability to promptly communicate concerns to nursing staff. 
• Strong leadership, conflict resolution, and team-building abilities. 
• Effective verbal and written communication skills. 
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support direct care staff. 
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, therapeutic communication, and crisis intervention techniques. 
• Ability to identify and mitigate environmental and patient safety risks. 
• Strong organizational and time-management skills. 
• Ability to coordinate care and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team. 
• Skill in documentation, patient observations, and regulatory compliance. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced behavioral health environment.

Education / Licensure:

The candidate will possess an accredited high school diploma or successfully pass the High School Equivalence Examination OR with an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preference is given to those with a degree or considerable coursework in the behavioral sciences or closely related field, and/or professional work experience in a psychiatric hospital or residential treatment center. 

Additional Requirements: Timely renewal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification, annual professional skills verification, and Handle with Care (HWC) (psychiatric crisis management) certification. Annual competency and skills validation. Ability to work weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, and overtime as required.