Mental Health Technician

Schuylkill • Bethlehem, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Assists in planning and implementing individual patient care and therapeutic milieu groups for psychiatric inpatients, provides direct care, and performs treatment and diagnostic procedures such as EKGs, phlebotomy, blood sugar checks, and bladder scans. Provides mental health support to children and adults and assists with intakes as required. Documents interactions and maintains complete records for staff and authorities involved in care decisions. Performs patient care activities in collaboration with and under the direction of an RN.

The position is onsite at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, in the Behavioral Health Float Pool. The work shift is nights, with a stated schedule of 7 p.m.–7:30 a.m. The posting describes the role as flex/per diem, with minimal weekend and holiday requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least one year of experience in a related human services field, such as healthcare, social services, criminal justice, education, or pastoral care; alternatively, at least one year of college credits, preferably in psychology, sociology, social work, special education, nursing, healthcare administration, or medicine.
• For the less-than-one-year experience pathway: at least six months of direct care experience, including individual and group counseling skills; acute behavioral healthcare or behavioral education experience is preferred. Direct care may include formal internship or clinical practicum experience.
• Alternatively, the posting lists one year of experience in behavioral health.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information and adapt readily to emergency situations.
• Ability to speak clearly, reason through problems, and recognize and understand others’ reactions.
• Knowledge of mental health and/or substance abuse.
• Individual and group counseling skills.
• AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification upon hire.
• Ability to lift and carry 40–50 pounds; push/pull patients on beds or stretchers and perform lateral transfers involving up to 50 pounds of a patient’s weight.
• Ability to stand and walk frequently to continuously; patient transporters may walk 8–10 miles per shift.
• May be required to kneel, bend, squat, and perform CPR, depending on role.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, education, nursing, medicine, or healthcare administration.
• One year of direct care experience with individual and group counseling skills in an acute behavioral healthcare setting.
• Previous direct-care experience in a behavioral health setting and working knowledge of mental health technician practices.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and implementing individual patient care and therapeutic milieu groups for psychiatric inpatients.
• Provide direct care and mental health support to children and adults, including assisting with intakes as required.
• Perform treatment and diagnostic procedures, including EKGs, phlebotomy, blood sugar checks, and bladder scans.
• Document observed client behaviors and interactions in electronic medical records, and maintain complete records.
• Accept emergency and crisis calls; respond to front-line first-responder needs by telephone and triage calls according to intensity, service needs, timing, and staff assignment.
• Assist patients with physical care, hygiene, and activities of daily living, following treatment-plan goals and interventions and unit guidelines.
• Offer input in formulating and revising treatment plans.
• Collaborate with an RN and function as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Conduct independent study of relevant literature and present to staff annually.
• Demonstrate at least one specific behavior supporting the care model, such as clinical supervision, committee participation, PI monitoring, scheduling coordination, PCC measurement, patient satisfaction follow-up, or peer review.
• Maintain competencies according to established procedures and department- or unit-specific assessment criteria.
• Pursue personal and professional development through continuing education and self-motivated learning.
• Participate in others’ professional learning and serve as a resource for students.
• Assist with orientation of new personnel and support the professional practice model.

What This Job Offers

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