Mental Health Tech | Behavioral Health | PRN Nights

For over a century, we’ve served the health care needs of the people of Memphis and the Mid-South. The Mental Health Technician plays a key role in providing a safe and structured therapeutic environment for Behavioral Health/Psychiatric Services inpatients, modeling behavior aligned with our Mission, Vision, and Values.

Responsibilities

• Participates in admission and discharge processes, orienting patients and families to the psychiatric unit.
• Performs clerical and data entry activities related to patient care.
• Provides high-quality patient care and assists Mental Health Counselors by contributing to the interdisciplinary treatment planning process through communicating observations, suggesting interventions, and participating in patient care-related meetings.
• Leads recreational, leisure, and skills activities.
• Maintains unit orderliness, safety, and supplies according to unit safety policies.
• Documents patient interactions, including clinical interventions, patient progress, and quality improvement activities.
• Utilizes and maintains effective communication systems within Psychiatric Services and with other units and departments of Methodist Health Systems.
• Assists and/or provides patients with personal care, ADLs, and basic needs under the direct supervision of the licensed nurse.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
• Performs other job functions as assigned or requested.

Requirements

• Associate’s Degree in Behavioral Science (required).
• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred).
• High School Diploma or Equivalent (preferred).
• Experience in a behavioral health treatment environment (preferred).
• HEARTSAVER certification – American Heart Association (required).
• BASIC LIFE SUPPORT certification – American Heart Association (preferred).

Skills

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology (preferred).
• Proficiency in basic computer functions and operations; previous keyboard experience or computer education (preferred).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with an understanding of human behavior and abnormal psychology.
• Ability to react quickly to emergency situations and de-escalate tense or potentially violent situations involving patients who may be delusional, aggressive, or agitated, following NVCI principles and established policies.
• Paraprofessional clinical skills, including taking vital signs, temperature/pulse/respiration, assisting with bed/bath, ADLs, CPR, and NVCI.
• Ability to record, analyze, and report mental status, special precautions (e.g., suicidality, homicidality, elopement), physical/medical acuity (e.g., withdrawal, nutritional needs), and ethnic concerns (e.g., social, religious, cultural needs).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including clear speech, acceptable pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and telephone etiquette.
• Ability to tolerate verbal abuse without loss of control.
• Ability to provide individual counseling and facilitate group counseling.
• Basic arithmetic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).

Physical Demands

• Occasional exposure to violent and physically aggressive patients.
• Physical activities include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion; requires good balance and coordination.
• Medium work: exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally, up to 200 lbs. unassisted, and 300 lbs. with assistance.
• Close visual acuity, including color, depth perception, and field of vision, for tasks such as assessing patients, preparing data, transcribing, and extensive reading.
• Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact; exposure to patient body fluids and hazardous materials.
• Occasional travel outside the facility.
• Annual requirements: TB skin test, CPR certification, and NVCI training.