Lead Mental Health Tech - Adolescent Residential Unit

Lead Mental Health Technician

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lead Mental Health Technician is responsible for direct supervision and oversight of the Mental Health Technicians and Team Leads, primarily on the residential unit. Responsibilities include orientation and onboarding of new Mental Health Technicians, ongoing education and competency, monitoring job performance, and coaching, counseling and recommendation of corrective action. The Lead Mental Health Technician must have good communication skills and have a demonstrated history of positive leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High School Diploma

Experience: minimum 5 years’ experience in milieu management; experience working with specialized populations such as victims of human trafficking, LGBTQ+ youth, complex trauma, and substance abuse;

Knowledge of psychiatric patient care techniques, knowledge and understanding of mental illness

Licensure: Must maintain a valid driver's license.

POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSBILITIES

• Leadership

• Provide direction, education and in-service to other employees regarding therapeutic
• Management of therapeutic space, supplies, and equipment including cleanliness, orderliness and safe conditions.
• Provide quality customer service when interacting with patients/families and hospital staff
• Create a positive environment by managing unpredictable situations through problem-solving.
• Assume responsibility for Mental Health Technicians during the assigned shifts.
• Supervise all activities of the Mental Health Technicians on the assigned shifts.
• Serve as liaison between Mental Health Technicians and facility management.
• Assist in evaluation of Mental Health Technicians as directed.
• Serve as liaison between Mental Health Technicians and House Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
• Participate in orientation/on-boarding new Mental Health Technicians.
• Implements established procedures for reallocation of staff to meet daily needs.
• Projects staffing needs for each shift based on acuity and special patient needs
• Consults with management when adjustments in staffing numbers or mix is indicated.
• Assists with hiring and recommendation of corrective action up to and including termination for Mental Health Technicians.
• Covers on unit as needed to maintain staffing ratios.
• Covers for acute MHT Supervisors when needed.

• Assessment
• Demonstrate responsibilities for observation and application of sound

• Consistently assess the needs of the milieu, including staff and patients, and identify proactive interventions to ensure a safe and therapeutic milieu.
• Assess training needs of departmental staff and collaborate with Program Director and Training Coordinator to ensure staff training needs are met.

• Therapeutic Intervention
• Maintain awareness of individualized crisis plans and ensure consistent implementation of those plans.
• Ensure that appropriate crisis intervention techniques are consistently utilized
• Collaborates with treatment team and attends weekly treatment team meeting as required

• Milieu Management
• Understand the role of patient observation and ensure that patients are continuously monitored for safety.
• Understand treatment needs of the special populations served
• Understand the age differences and the corresponding developmental needs.
• Ensure consistent adherence to the program schedule; provide input regarding program needs
• Establish, maintain, and role model professional therapeutic relationships
• Understand and apply de-escalation techniques and manage patients utilizing the least restrictive techniques.
• Monitor and maintain patient safety by ensuring consistent adherence to policy and procedure, including but not limited to body searches, room searches, transitioning between activities, active patient observation.

GENERAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Completes mandatory in-services annually and as assigned.
• Maintains professional licensure/certification, if required.
• Participates in continuing education opportunities, if required.
• Attends and participates in monthly departmental meetings.
• Accepts direction and adheres to departmental procedures.
• Accepts direction and adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Adheres to hospital policies concerning conduct, dress and punctuality.
• Maintains confidentiality of facility patients.
• Adheres to hospital policy concerning attendance and tardiness.

SUPERVISORY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Consistently and objectively intervenes with staff to correct employee performance that does not meet expectations using coaching or disciplinary counseling techniques.
• Assures that departmental services are provided in accordance with program schedules.
• Develops and maintains departmental staff who are competent to provide departmental services.
• Monitors and assures staff compliance with completing annual competencies, required in-services, and continuing education.
• Functions as a resource to departmental staff and other hospital staff on departmental issues as needed.
• Completes departmental staff performance evaluations in a timely manner, incorporating documented examples of performance that exceeds or falls below expectations.
• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by effectively utilizing resources and maintaining departmental expenses within identified financial parameters.
• Assures department is a robust component of each of the treatment programs, including holidays, special events, family activities, etc.

Note: The job functions of this position are not limited to the duties listed above.

Work Hours: Days 7:00am to 3:30pm. Must be able to work periodic weekends