LEAD MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN - EVENINGS

UHS•Bradenton, FL

About The Position

Suncoast Behavioral Health Center provides mental health care and education services to adolescents ages 11–17 experiencing behavioral, emotional, educational, family, and social challenges. The program promotes healthy behaviors and prepares patients to transition back home. The Lead Mental Health Technician provides direct patient care to children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting, with patient safety on the units as the primary responsibility. The role ensures that direct care and unit tasks follow hospital policies. The Lead Mental Health Technician has a patient assignment and supports patients in treatment, recreation, and activities of daily living while assessing changes in social behavior and clinical status. The position also helps ensure the program schedule is followed, assigns unit tasks, and enforces hospital policies. The role requires understanding and using least restrictive interventions under facility policy and avoiding seclusion and restraint whenever possible. The schedule is 3:00 PM–11:30 PM, with every other weekend required. Occasional overtime and flexible hours may be required.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
At least 1 year of psychiatric or behavioral direct-care experience in a psychiatric hospital setting as a Mental Health Tech, working with children, adolescents, and/or adults.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
Ability to set and maintain therapeutic distance and boundaries with clients.
Ability to read, understand, and follow policies, procedures, and written treatment plans.
Ability to participate in physical restraint and seclusion of patients.
Ability to complete annual Handle With Care training; successful completion is required before assisting with a restraining procedure and within 7 days of employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification.
Physical agility to manage patients, including pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 50 pounds; the posting also states the ability to lift over 50 pounds.
Ability to perform intermittent sitting, standing, walking, bending, and stooping, with extensive walking, standing, and sitting.
May be required to work occasional overtime and flexible hours.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care to children and adolescents in a behavioral health setting.
Ensure patient safety on the units.
Ensure direct care and unit tasks are performed according to hospital policy.
Support assigned patients in treatment, recreation, and activities of daily living, and assess changes in social behaviors and clinical status.
Ensure the program schedule is followed.
Assign unit tasks and ensure hospital policies are enforced.
Use least restrictive interventions according to facility policy and avoid seclusion and restraint whenever possible.
Participate in physical restraint and seclusion of patients when necessary.
Maintain therapeutic distance and boundaries with clients during treatment and following discharge.
Read, understand, and follow policies, procedures, and written treatment plans.
Complete CPR certification and Handle With Care training as required.