Mental Health Technician

WESTCARE INC • Marathon, FL

5d • $19 - $19 • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician supports medical services for people receiving outpatient mental health care. The role assists with treatment plans and reviews, patient assistance programs, medication-related tasks, IDP and outcomes, authorization overrides, follow-ups, state paperwork, and referrals. It also conducts face-to-face visits and handles telephone calls related to medical services.

The position assists the doctor and psychiatrist with treatment planning and patient appointments, helps take patients’ vital signs, maintains medication inventory and records, and supports front-office functions such as scheduling, payments, and answering phones. The technician maintains patient charts in compliance with applicable state, CARF, Medicaid, and other requirements, and participates in case conferences, training, staff meetings, supervisory sessions, and quality-improvement activities.

Work is primarily performed in an office or residential treatment setting. The role requires effective communication and collaboration with patients, coworkers, a multidisciplinary team, and external partners; the ability to respond appropriately to medical or psychiatric emergencies; and adherence to confidentiality, safety, ethical, and agency requirements. Physical duties include standing and walking, sitting for extended periods, bending, reaching, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, and using computer and telephone systems. The employee may need to use approved physical and verbal de-escalation techniques.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent issued by a state department of education.
• One year of experience working in a medical office.
• CPR certification, First Aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test.
• Working knowledge of behavioral health terminology and medical terminology.
• Written and verbal communication skills, as well as administrative and clerical skills.
• Ability to respond appropriately in a medical or psychiatric emergency and demonstrate empathy and compassion during a crisis.
• Ability to comply with statutory requirements and professional and ethical responsibilities concerning confidentiality.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, CARF, and Department of Children and Families rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of HIPAA, professional ethics, consumer rights, confidentiality, incident reporting, WestCare’s mission, goals and values, and WestCare services and programs.
• Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with a multidisciplinary team and to organize, interpret, and communicate data comprehensively.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion, work effectively in a team, and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, coworkers, external partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, accept direction, demonstrate dependability, maintain attendance, and be responsive and flexible to supervisor requests.
• Ability to maintain a safe, clean, and orderly work area and follow agency safety procedures and incident-reporting processes.
• Ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings and use approved physical and verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Ability to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions with clients, coworkers, managers, the public, and employees at all levels.
• Ability to perform required physical duties, including standing and walking, sitting for extended periods, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, and using computer and telephone systems.
• Ability to talk, hear, and see as needed to communicate, complete paperwork, and observe client behavior and activities.
• Adherence to high standards of ethical conduct, especially confidentiality.
• Professional demeanor, courtesy, tact, respect, integrity, and workmanship.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, or a related social science field.
• Six months of experience working in a mental health or substance abuse agency.
• Bilingual ability.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with the doctor and participate in medical treatment planning and reviews.
• Consult with each patient about progress toward treatment plan goals and objectives.
• Order medications at the request of medical staff or the doctor.
• Maintain medication inventory and records, including medication samples and IDP.
• Complete required state and intake paperwork.
• Provide backup for front-office and reception duties, including scheduling appointments, handling super bills and payments, and answering phones.
• Complete and comply with requests for records.
• Maintain patient charts in compliance with State, CARF, Medicaid, and other applicable rules and standards.
• Attend and participate in training activities, staff meetings, and supervisory sessions.
• Participate in Quality Improvement activities and committee assignments as requested.
• Ensure that a note is included on a psychiatric evaluation when it is billed on a SAL.
• Assist with taking patients’ vital signs and preparing patients for appointments.
• Assist the psychiatrist as needed and participate in case conferences.
• Complete orientation and mandated training, including E-Learning Courses, within required timeframes.
• Embrace and embody WestCare Foundation’s mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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