Crisis Services Technician - Crisis Services Unit

Glens Falls Hospital•Glens Falls, NY

1d•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. The Crisis Center operates in a fast-paced environment as it is an outpatient unit located in our state-of-the-art Emergency Department. Responsibilities include supporting intake processes, safety procedures (such as contraband and body checks), and assisting with patient flow. Care is more immediate and triage-based, with patients receiving initial treatment and stabilization while awaiting a full crisis evaluation.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required
1–2 years of healthcare, patient care, or mental health experience is preferred
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
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.