Mental Health Technician

Schuylkill • Bethlehem, PA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician assists in planning and implementing individual patient care and therapeutic milieu groups for psychiatric inpatients, provides direct care, and supports children and adults with mental health needs. The role includes assisting with intakes and performing treatment and diagnostic procedures such as EKGs, phlebotomy, blood sugar checks, and bladder scans. The technician documents patient interactions and observed behaviors in electronic medical records and maintains complete records for staff and authorities involved in decision-making. Patient care is provided in collaboration with and under the direction of an RN.

The position is based at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, is onsite, and works a day shift schedule of 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is part-time, with a rotation every third weekend and two rotating holidays annually.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Either at least one year of experience in a related human services field (such as healthcare, social services, criminal justice, education, or pastoral care), or at least one year of college credits; preferred college areas include psychology, sociology, social work, special education, nursing, healthcare administration, or medicine.
• The posting lists alternative experience qualifications: for candidates with less than one year, at least six months of direct-care experience that includes individual and group counseling skills is required, preferably in acute behavioral healthcare or a behavioral education setting; direct care may include formal internship or clinical practicum experience. Alternatively, one year of behavioral health experience is listed.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information and adapt readily to emergency situations.
• Ability to speak clearly so listeners can comprehend.
• Ability to use reasoning to solve problems.
• Ability to be aware of others’ reactions and understand possible causes.
• Knowledge of mental health and/or substance abuse.
• Individual and group counseling skills.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification from the American Heart Association upon hire.
• Ability to lift and carry 40–50 pounds; examples include pushing or pulling patients on beds or stretchers and lateral transfers.
• Ability to stand and walk frequently to continuously.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, education, nursing, medicine, or healthcare administration.
• Direct-care experience including 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 to patients, including assistance with physical care, hygiene, and activities of daily living.
• Support children and adults with mental health needs and assist with intakes as required.
• Perform treatment and diagnostic procedures, including EKGs, phlebotomy, blood sugar checks, and bladder scans.
• Document patient interactions and observed behaviors in electronic medical records and maintain complete records.
• Accept emergency and crisis calls; respond to first-responder needs by telephone and triage calls according to intensity, service needs, critical timing, and staff assignment.
• Base interactions on treatment-plan goals and interventions and comply with unit-specific guidelines.
• Offer input used to formulate and revise treatment plans.
• Conduct independent study of relevant literature and present findings to staff annually.
• Demonstrate at least one behavior supporting the professional practice model, such as clinical supervision, committee participation, PI monitoring, coordinating scheduling, PCC measurement, patient-satisfaction follow-up, or peer review.
• Maintain competencies according to established procedures and department- or unit-specific assessment criteria.
• Participate in continuing education and self-directed learning for personal and professional development.
• Function as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, participate in others’ professional learning, and serve as a resource for students.
• Assist with orientation of new personnel and support the professional practice model.
• Perform patient-care activities in collaboration with and under the direction of an RN.

What This Job Offers

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