Mental Health Technician - MH​/BH

Kempsville Center for Behavioral Health, part of Universal Health Services, is located in Norfolk, VA and provides acute, residential, and partial hospitalization treatment for children and teens with behavioral and mental health concerns. The center is an 82‑bed facility accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The Mental Health Technician serves as a role model for patients/residents, helping them learn socially effective values, attitudes, and behaviors. The role ensures a safe environment and a positive culture, contributes to patient treatment plans through regular communication with the multidisciplinary team, and promotes cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development to help patients achieve treatment goals.

• Read and interpret treatment plans for patients/residents and develop appropriate strategies to help patients learn acceptable behaviors.
• Develop and facilitate group sessions to implement skill acquisition and behavior reduction plans aligned with individual patient/resident treatment goals.
• Observe, collect, and accurately record observed behaviors, write detailed progress notes, and communicate with the multidisciplinary treatment team to identify and attain prescribed treatment goals.
• Assist with behavior management and crisis intervention by creating learning opportunities that support a positive normative culture and utilizing appropriate intervention techniques to redirect behavior.
• Utilize established mechanisms to enhance communication among and between staff (e.g., shift reports, team logs, staff meetings).
• Assist with facility staffing needs by working with various populations to support continuity of care and services, including but not limited to residential, acute, or PHP.
• Conduct continuous and ongoing rounding to accurately assess and monitor patients/residents per doctor’s orders and milieu to proactively prevent or respond to potential crisis situations.
• Ensure consistent service delivery by treating patients/residents, families, and co‑workers with respect, communicating appropriately, and demonstrating appropriate boundaries.

Required

Education & Experience:

• Associate’s degree in Human Services, Early Childhood Education, Social Sciences, or related field
  • In lieu of a degree, 2+ years of experience working directly with children in a therapeutic setting OR
  • In lieu of a degree, QMHP‑C certification and no experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to de‑escalate situations with patients
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Ability to maintain strong interpersonal relationships
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Working knowledge of behavior management
• Broad knowledge and understanding of common mental health diagnoses (e.g., Anxiety, Depression, Psychosis, ADHD, Bipolar, Suicide)

Preferred Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Early Childhood Education, Social Sciences, or related field
• QMHP‑C certification
• 4+ years of child and adolescent in‑patient (residential or acute) psychiatry

Evening shift (2:45 pm – 11:15 pm) with rotating weekends and holidays.

N/A

• Blood borne disease exposure category:
  Category I

• The physical requirements for this position include standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, and lying on the floor for long periods; lifting 50 lbs; reading, writing, speaking, and listening clearly; and being 21 years old or older.

• Competitive Compensation (starting hourly rate is $17 and increases based on relevant years of experience)
• Kempsville Center for Behavioral Health is a challenging and rewarding work environment
• Growth and development opportunities within UHS and its subsidiaries
• Excellent benefits program – Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, Short & Long‑Term disability
• UHS Retirement Savings Plan
• Stock Purchase Plan
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off

All UHS…