Behavioral Health Technician - Behavioral Health Unit
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Technician (also referred to as a Behavioral Health Services Technician or Crisis Services Technician) provides hands-on care to individuals experiencing acute mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. Working under the guidance of licensed nursing staff, the technician supports patients in a secure Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit and a Crisis Stabilization Unit. The role combines medical support with empathetic, trauma-informed advocacy and includes exposure to acute inpatient care and emergency psychiatric crisis settings, serving patients from pediatric through adult age groups. The hospital provides paid specialized training and clinical orientation, including CIT and BLS certifications, along with structured on-the-job training and mentorship from licensed professionals. The position may offer relevant patient-care experience for individuals pursuing advanced education in social work, psychology, mental health counseling, or nursing.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- Basic Life Support (BLS), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), and NAPPI certifications are required; the hospital provides them during onboarding.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong conflict de-escalation abilities.
- Comfort working with diverse populations in high-acuity medical environments.
Nice To Haves
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or a related behavioral field.
- 1–2 years of healthcare, patient care, or mental health experience.
- OPWDD experience or training.
Responsibilities
- Build trusting relationships with patients that support personal recovery, resilience, and emotional regulation.
- Deliver trauma-informed care that minimizes restrictive measures and empowers patients to participate in their treatment plans.
- Assist and teach patients with daily living activities, personal hygiene, and nutritional tracking.
- Facilitate therapeutic group activities, holiday celebrations, and movie nights in partnership with programming directors.
- Perform medical tasks including taking vital signs, blood glucose checks, lab specimen collection, 12-lead EKGs, and phlebotomy.
- Manage patient intake workflows, including charting, inventorying personal belongings, and orienting new patients to the unit.
- Observe and document patient behaviors and promptly provide clear written and verbal updates to the Registered Nurse regarding status changes.
- Complete basic clerical tasks and escort patients to off-unit activities.
- Maintain unit safety and security through safety rounds, room checks, video monitoring, and contraband searches.
- Provide direct visual observation for high-risk patients to help ensure the safety of patients and staff.
- De-escalate tense situations, patient aggression, and behavioral crises using hospital-approved verbal and physical techniques.
- Apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints only when necessary and in accordance with physician protocols and safety guidelines.
Benefits
- Paid specialized crisis prevention and clinical orientation training, including CIT and BLS certifications.
- Structured on-the-job training and mentorship from licensed professionals.
- Pathway for internal career growth.
- Competitive benefits offerings are available to active, full-time and part-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
