Mental Health Technician (MHT)

SUN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GROUP•Houston, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) provides direct and indirect patient care under the direction of an RN or LPN/LVN. The role supports the personal care and comfort of psychiatric patients and helps maintain a safe, clean environment. The MHT participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities. The position includes observing and documenting patients’ behavior, mental status, activities, and safety checks; assisting with daily living and medical needs; supporting de-escalation and patient safety interventions under nursing direction; and communicating patient changes to nursing staff. The MHT also assists with patient orientation, therapeutic educational groups, treatment team activities, and new-staff orientation. The role follows hospital policies, safety practices, privacy requirements, and documentation standards while contributing to teamwork, service excellence, and quality care.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
CPR certification.
Certification in a hospital-selected de-escalation technique.
Previous experience in a healthcare setting.
Maintain education and development appropriate for the position.
Ability to observe and identify patient behaviors that may require intervention.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to follow hospital standards, policies, procedures, protocols, and privacy requirements.

Nice To Haves

Some college classes.
Certified Nursing Assistant certification.
One year of experience as a behavioral health technician.
Education may be substituted for experience; experience may be substituted for education, as applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide direct and indirect patient care under the direction of an RN or LPN/LVN.
Support psychiatric patients’ personal care and comfort and help maintain a safe, clean environment.
Measure and record vital signs, intake, and output; report changes to the RN.
Observe patients’ behavior, mental status, and activities, and report changes or unusual occurrences to the RN.
Identify behaviors requiring intervention and use limit-setting and de-escalation techniques.
Escort patients to activities, meals, visitation, and scheduled tests.
Perform and document scheduled patient safety checks, including 15-minute rounds and one-on-one or constant visual observation for high-risk patients.
Assist with restraint (physical hold) and seclusion under the RN’s direction, using CPI techniques and following policies and procedures.
Orient patients to the unit and record admission vital signs on the Nursing Assessment Form and/or in the EHR.
Participate in treatment team meetings and communicate appropriately with the Nurse Manager, RNs, therapists, and physicians.
Answer telephone calls professionally, direct calls, and take messages.
Operate equipment safely and correctly.
Assist with therapeutic educational groups under the direction of the RN or Director of Clinical Services.
Assist patients with additional medical needs, transfers, activities of daily living, and meals.
Monitor patients’ compliance with pre- and post-procedure instructions, including ECT instructions, under RN supervision.
Assist in the orientation of new staff members and perform other duties as assigned.
Follow safety rules, promptly report near misses, errors, and accidents, correct minor safety hazards, and communicate identified hazards.
Participate in assigned quality projects and support quality and safety initiatives.
Collaborate with patients, families, colleagues, staff, and physicians; communicate and exchange information verbally and in writing.
Follow established standards, policies, procedures, protocols, laws, HIPAA, and other privacy requirements; maintain confidentiality and proper documentation.
Complete required training within defined time periods and demonstrate professionalism, accountability, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.