Mental Health Technician | Behavioral Health | PRN Status

Logan Health Medical Center•Kalispell, MT

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician provides compassionate care and supervision to patients and clients in Logan Health’s 40-bed acute inpatient Behavioral Health facility, which serves Montana clients with mental health or substance abuse issues. The role supports individualized treatment plans, documents patient behaviors and care, promotes a safe and therapeutic environment, and helps facilitate individual and group activities. Care is delivered collaboratively with psychiatrists, licensed therapists, psychiatric nurses, and other team members in a caring and confidential setting. This is a PRN position with variable shifts, scheduled as needed to provide coverage during busy periods and employee absences. Applicants must have prior experience working in a residential, psychiatric, or mental health facility or environment; inexperienced candidates will not be considered. The job includes basic patient/client care under leadership direction, safety monitoring, and responding professionally to stressful situations, including de-escalation when needed. Duties may vary according to departmental needs, and other similar duties may be assigned. Employment offers are contingent on pre-employment screening, including a criminal background check, reference checks, drug screening, health and immunization screening, and a physical-demand review or screening.

Requirements

Prior experience working in a residential, psychiatric, or mental health facility or environment; inexperienced candidates will not be considered.
RQI Responder (BLS) certification is required within 7 days of hire or transfer, or before independent patient care, whichever occurs first.
De-escalation training is required within twelve months of hire.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, self-direction, critical thinking, prioritization, and ability to work both as part of a team and independently.
Commitment to teamwork and maintaining confidentiality as needed.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with various audiences.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy.
Computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn other software as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, education, or a related field; other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Prior experience working in a residential, psychiatric, or mental health facility is highly preferred.
Knowledge of cultural, ethnic, social, historical, and spiritual issues relevant to providing mental health treatment.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the effective implementation of individual treatment plans.
Provide limited one-to-one contact with patients/clients and assist with aftercare and transition planning.
Ensure patients/clients and their environments are safe by completing safety checks, monitoring for potential problems or unsafe conditions, and reporting concerns to appropriate leadership.
Deliver basic patient/client care under the direction or supervision of leadership.
Accurately and promptly document care in the electronic medical record.
Exercise sound judgment and respond professionally in stressful and non-stressful situations.
Remain calm when de-escalating patients/clients and use interventions from least restrictive to more restrictive based on de-escalation training.
Encourage patient/client participation in individual and group activities and programs through positive interactions, instruction, oversight, feedback, and encouragement.
Identify at-risk patients/clients and develop safety plans based on assessments as needed.
Communicate relevant information and issues to appropriate stakeholders.
Oversee patients/clients during aspects of their day, including school, therapy groups, and recreational activities, as applicable to the assigned area.
Assess patients/clients, identify dynamics and diagnostic elements, and provide therapy as indicated to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment, as applicable to the assigned area.