Youth Residential Technician - Behavioral Health - PT Days with Benefits

About the role

Carrier Clinic, a behavioral health system within Hackensack Meridian Health, operates the East Mountain Youth Lodge, providing 24-hour residential treatment services for adolescents aged 13-18. The Youth Residential Technician plays a key role in delivering clinical, therapeutic, and daily living support to residents with emotional, behavioral, psychiatric, and substance abuse challenges.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24-hour care and supervision to residents, ensuring a safe and supportive home environment.
• Directly supervise and track the whereabouts of assigned residents.
• Implement and enforce program procedures, including point and level systems.
• Lead activity, support, and recreation groups with guidance from clinical staff.
• Organize and conduct planned activities for individuals and groups.
• Assist residents in planning appropriate recreational activities.
• Serve as a primary counselor for an assigned number of residents.
• Teach residents home management skills, including cooking, cleaning, nutrition, and budgeting.
• Administer fair and reasonable disciplinary measures when necessary.
• Ensure residents are informed of program rules and regulations.
• Provide crisis intervention and assist with personal restraints of agitated residents as needed.
• Maintain building security through regular checks and conduct resident room checks/searches as required.
• Carry a beeper for one week in rotation and respond to staff shortages by locating replacements or filling shifts.
• Inspect resident belongings to prevent prohibited items from entering the Lodge.
• Assist residents with daily living activities, including hygiene, room cleaning, and structured participation.
• Provide input on unit-based performance improvement measures.
• Complete accurate and timely paperwork, including shift overviews, nursing notes, and communication logs.
• Review and document Behavior Modification logs, incident reports, and medically related information.
• Manage petty cash and vehicle keys, ensuring proper documentation of expenditures.
• Maintain the Maintenance Log and assist in data collection.
• Orient and supervise new or transfer staff and students during buddy orientation.
• Provide input on education and orientation programs.
• Complete special projects tailored to individual expertise and Lodge needs.
• Adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., PCH, Co-Occurring, RTC) and 3+ years of direct care experience with youth in a behavioral health or institutional setting.
• Valid Driver’s License from a U.S. state.
• AHA Heart Saver First Aid CPR AED Certification (or completion within the first 90 days of employment).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Enrollment in a nursing or social work degree program.

Pay

Starting rate of $22.50 per hour. The final base compensation may vary based on factors such as labor market data, experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, and budget considerations. Eligible positions may also include shift differentials, performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions.

Benefits

Hackensack Meridian Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) employees, including health, dental, and vision coverage; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and retirement benefits.