Behavioral Health Technician - Behavioral Health Unit

Glens Falls Hospital • City of Glens Falls, NY

13h • $19 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Technician or Crisis Services Technician, you are the heartbeat of our therapeutic environment. Working under the guidance of licensed nursing staff, you will provide vital, hands-on care to individuals navigating acute mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. This unique role allows you to make a profound difference by blending essential medical support with empathetic, trauma-informed advocacy in our secure Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit and brand-new Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong conflict de-escalation abilities
• Dedicated comfort level 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 is strongly preferred
• 1–2 years of healthcare, patient care, or mental health experience is preferred
• OPWDD experience or training highly desired

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with patients that emphasize 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 core medical tasks, including taking vital signs, blood glucose checks, lab specimen collection, 12-lead EKGs, and phlebotomy (blood draws).
• Manage patient intake workflows, including charting, inventorying personal belongings, and orienting new patients to the unit.
• Observe and document patient behaviors, providing clear, timely written and verbal updates promptly to the Registered Nurse regarding any status changes.
• Support the unit by completing basic clerical tasks and escorting patients to off-unit activities.
• Maintain unit safety and security by conducting safety rounds, room checks, video monitoring, and contraband searches.
• Provide direct visual observation for high-risk patients to ensure the safety of both patients and staff.
• De-escalate tense situations, patient aggression, or behavioral crises using hospital-approved verbal and physical techniques.
• Apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints only when necessary, strictly adhering to physician protocols and safety guidelines.

Benefits

• Paid Specialized Training: Receive fully compensated, gold-standard crisis prevention and clinical orientation certifications (including CIT and BLS) upon hire.
• The Ideal Stepping Stone: Gain highly coveted, hands-on patient care hours perfect for individuals pursuing advanced degrees in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, or Nursing.
• Comprehensive Clinical Exposure: Gain diverse skills by cross-training in both acute inpatient care and emergency psychiatric crisis settings, working with all age groups from pediatric to adult populations.
• Diverse Population Experience: Gain invaluable skills working with both voluntarily admitted and acute patients across all age groups, including pediatric populations.
• A Supportive Environment: Benefit from structured on-the-job training, mentorship from licensed professionals, and a clear pathway for internal career growth.
• Comprehensive benefits offerings available to active, full-time and part-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED