Mental Health Tech (MHT) Supervisor – Full-Time, Night Shift

UHS•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) is seeking a Mental Health Technician (MHT) Supervisor to join its Nursing Administration team. The supervisor provides leadership and oversight to Mental Health Technicians while supporting a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for patients receiving inpatient psychiatric care. The role is suited to an experienced behavioral healthcare professional who is committed to patient-centered care, staff development, and a supportive environment for patients and team members. The MHT Supervisor supports daily patient care operations, mentors direct care staff, oversees the therapeutic milieu, and helps maintain safety and compliance. The position works collaboratively with nursing leadership and interdisciplinary team members and responds to behavioral emergencies and hospital codes. The supervisor also supports admissions, patient orientation, observations, documentation, and clinical care activities as delegated by the Registered Nurse. PIW is a 130-bed behavioral healthcare facility serving children, adolescents, and adults in the Washington, D.C. community. It offers inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of inpatient psychiatric experience.
CPR/BLS certification through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Knowledge of psychiatric conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociative disorders.
Understanding of age-appropriate patient needs, behavioral development, and therapeutic approaches.
Knowledge of nursing care plans, patient admission procedures, and patient orientation processes.
Experience using grounding techniques, containment strategies, and supportive patient interventions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Compassionate leadership, effective communication, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm and decisive in challenging situations.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

Provide daily supervision, guidance, and mentorship to Mental Health Technicians, supporting staff performance, professional development, and accountability.
Oversee the therapeutic milieu and ensure program schedules, patient activities, and unit procedures are followed.
Collaborate with nursing leadership and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate patient care, address concerns, and support individualized treatment goals.
Respond to behavioral emergencies and hospital codes, partnering with nursing supervisors on de-escalation and safety interventions.
Model trauma-informed approaches, therapeutic communication, and approved crisis intervention techniques to promote patient dignity and safety.
Support patient admissions, orientation, behavioral observations, documentation, and clinical care activities as delegated by the Registered Nurse.
Assist with staff onboarding, training, performance improvement, and development of therapeutic group activities.
Maintain compliance with hospital policies, infection prevention practices, and patient safety standards while promoting a supportive treatment environment.