Mental Health Tech Adolescent Residential Unit

Mental Health Technician

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) works within the psychiatric departments to support patient care by assisting with daily activities, monitoring safety, and maintaining a therapeutic environment. This role requires the ability to manage high-stress situations, including de-escalating aggressive behavior, while demonstrating flexibility and professionalism. MHTs perform physical tasks such as lifting and moving patients, conduct safety checks, and ensure accurate documentation of patient status and interventions.

Strong communication skills, adherence to therapeutic boundaries, and commitment to patient dignity are essential.

Working Environment:
Mostly indoor environment in and around the Unit and the Hospital. May possibly be subjected to temperature changes. Moderate physical activity. Some hazard potential from possibility of a patient physically acting out and communicable diseases.

Physical and Mental Requirements of Job:
Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations, such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner; must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic; ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another; must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions.

Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips. Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which details must be conveyed or important instructions spoken to others accurately – sometimes quickly and loudly – to make fine discrimination in sound.

Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands and fingers. Individual must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction such that administrative and clerical tasks can be completed and patients visually observed within the facility and in therapeutic activities.

Must be able to set and maintain therapeutic distance with clients, as well as maintain therapeutic boundaries during treatment following discharge.