Mental Health Technician

Sheridan Memorial Hospital•Sheridan, WY

17h

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) is a frontline member of the behavioral health care team at The Path Behavioral Health Center, supporting crisis stabilization unit (CSU) and inpatient behavioral health services. The MHT provides direct patient support, therapeutic engagement, environmental safety monitoring, and operational assistance to promote a safe, respectful, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented setting. The role works collaboratively with nursing staff, providers, therapists, peer support specialists, security, and other interdisciplinary team members to support patient care, maintain a therapeutic milieu, assist with crisis intervention and de-escalation, and ensure patient safety. It requires strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and calm, effective responses in high-stress situations. The position may involve exposure to blood or body fluids, infectious disease, hazardous waste, odorous chemicals or specimens, and latex products. Personal protective equipment is required where applicable. Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening is required. The position must be able to work any day of the week, including weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts.

Requirements

Current unrestricted Wyoming Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) license, or an associate degree or college coursework in psychology, human services, social work, criminal justice, nursing, or a related field.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Central Registry clearance/requirement.
Completion of de-escalation training within one year.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both reading and writing.
Knowledge of multi-line telephones and computers.
Ability to operate designated equipment, including computer keyboarding.
Basic clerical training, including numerical and alphabetical filing procedures.
Ability to work under pressure with time constraints.
Basic knowledge of medical record content and sequence.
Ability to function independently with minimal direction.
Ability to work weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts.
Compliance with pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED is preferred.
At least one year of experience in behavioral health, healthcare, social services, emergency services, residential treatment, or a related setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

Create a welcoming, respectful, and therapeutic environment for patients, families, visitors, and staff.
Provide direct observation and supervision of behavioral health patients according to physician orders, nursing direction, unit protocols, and patient safety requirements.
Monitor patient location, behavior, emotional status, and safety concerns, and promptly communicate changes in condition to nursing staff.
Help establish and maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic milieu in crisis stabilization and inpatient behavioral health settings.
Use trauma-informed care principles and therapeutic communication techniques in patient interactions.
Support patients with activities of daily living, meals, hygiene, unit orientation, and therapeutic activities as appropriate to their condition and level of care.
Assist nursing staff with admission, discharge, transfer, and room preparation processes.
Participate in patient rounding, safety checks, environmental checks, contraband searches, and ligature risk reduction procedures according to department policy.
Assist with patient belongings inventory and related documentation in accordance with regulatory and safety requirements.
Monitor patient behavior and respond to escalating behaviors using approved de-escalation techniques.
Participate in behavioral emergency responses and assist with safety interventions within the scope of the role and training.
Maintain patient dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and emotional safety during care interactions.
Facilitate or assist with therapeutic, recreational, and psychoeducational group activities as directed.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record according to department standards.
Assist with routine vital signs, specimen collection, weights, and other patient care tasks within the scope of training and organizational policy.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe unit environment; follow infection prevention and control practices and use personal protective equipment appropriately.
Communicate and collaborate professionally with providers, nursing staff, peers, patients, families, law enforcement, EMS, and community partners.
Support patient flow and operational workflows within the behavioral health program.
Conduct activities in accordance with the hospital’s mission, values, policies, EMTALA requirements, CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, HIPAA privacy and security requirements, and behavioral health regulatory expectations.
Work any day of the week, including weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts, to support patient care and operational needs.