Mental Health Technician - Crisis Intervention Center

Description

**Multiple Full and Part Time positions available**

Position Summary:

The Mental Health Technician is responsible for implementing the daily operations of the Crisis Intervention Center, ensuring the safety, supervision, and well-being of patients experiencing mental health or substance use crises. This position provides direct interaction, behavioral support, crisis response, and therapeutic engagement in a structured environment.

The position is primarily assigned to the Crisis Intervention Center and may provide cross-coverage in Center residential addiction-treatment programs when assigned, trained, and determined competent to do so.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and maintain accountability for patients in accordance with required staffing ratios, individualized supervision requirements, and CIC policies; maintain awareness of patient locations and provide increased or 1:1 supervision when required.
• Observe, monitor, and document patient status and behavior, including mood, behavior, participation in treatment and therapeutic activities, interactions with others, and changes or concerns; promptly communicate significant observations and safety concerns to nursing, clinical staff, and supervisors.
• Engage patients therapeutically through active listening, supportive communication, emotional support, trauma-informed interactions, therapeutic and recovery-oriented activities, and appropriate conflict-resolution and de-escalation techniques.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living and unit routines, including hygiene, meals, personal care as needed, group participation, and other activities that support stabilization and treatment goals.
• Implement established crisis-intervention and patient-safety measures within the MHT's training and role, including suicide and self-harm precautions, individualized safety plans, trauma-informed interventions, de-escalation techniques, and response to behavioral emergencies.
• Maintain a safe and secure treatment environment by completing required patient observations, room and safety checks, contraband procedures, building-security activities, and other safety measures; maintain control of prohibited, hazardous, or potentially dangerous items in accordance with CIC policy.
• Prevent and respond to patient elopement or unauthorized departure by maintaining patient accountability, following established security and elopement-prevention procedures, and immediately reporting and responding to incidents in accordance with CIC protocols.
• Follow all applicable restraint, seclusion, and safety-intervention requirements, including use of approved interventions within the employee's training and authority and compliance with applicable regulations and CIC policies. Prohibited interventions, weapons, chemical restraints, mace, and pepper spray shall not be used.
• Complete accurate, clear, timely, and confidential documentation, including patient observations, interactions, participation, interventions, incidents, daily logs, shift reports, and other required records in accordance with CIC policies, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 when applicable, and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with the interdisciplinary team, including nursing, clinical staff, case management, supervisors, and other team members; participate in shift-change briefings and staff meetings and communicate information necessary to support continuity of care and patient safety.
• Support patient rights and culturally responsive care by treating patients with dignity and respect, maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries, respecting cultural and religious differences, and demonstrating sound ethical judgment in interactions and decision-making.
• Follow infection-control, environmental-safety, and emergency-preparedness procedures, including maintaining a clean and safe environment and appropriately responding to fire, severe weather, medical or behavioral emergencies, elopement, and other emergency situations.
• Use required electronic records, computer systems, and general office equipment to complete documentation, access necessary patient information, and perform other assigned job functions.
• Participate in required orientation, training, continuing education, and emergency drills, including training in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention and de-escalation, suicide and self-harm prevention, security and elopement prevention, confidentiality, restraint and seclusion, emergency procedures, and other required competencies; maintain required First Aid and CPR certification.
• Assist with the orientation and support of new staff, interns, and volunteers, including reinforcement of established safety procedures and de-escalation practices, when assigned and within the employee's demonstrated competency.
• Maintain professional conduct and organizational compliance by following CIC and Center policies and procedures, applicable KDADS requirements, patient-rights requirements, confidentiality standards, supervisory direction, and other applicable state and federal requirements.
• Perform routine unit housekeeping and environmental-maintenance duties, including cleaning and disinfecting patient or client rooms, bathrooms, common areas, high-touch surfaces, and other assigned areas; changing linens; handling laundry and waste in accordance with infection-control procedures; stocking essential supplies; supervising resident cleaning assignments when applicable; and promptly reporting maintenance, sanitation, pest-control, or safety concerns to the appropriate staff member.
• When assigned to provide residential addiction-treatment coverage, support the daily structure and operation of the residential program, including recovery-oriented and therapeutic activities, house meetings, meals, curfews, resident accountability, and appropriate supervision of resident chores and unit routines.
• When authorized, trained, and assigned, transport residential addiction treatment clients in accordance with Center policy; assist with or observe urine-specimen collection and other program-required screening procedures; and document related activities accurately and promptly.

This position is funded through external grant funding. Employment in this role is contingent upon the availability and continuation of grant funds. While the organization intends to support the position for the duration of the grant period, continued employment is not guaranteed and may be affected by changes in funding availability, grant requirements, program needs, or organizational priorities.

Requirements

The Mental Health Technician role requires individuals who are compassionate, observant, and capable of working in a fast-paced crisis intervention setting. Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Current Kansas certification as a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) in active status and good standing, preferred.
• Must be emotionally resilient, communicative, adaptable, and committed to trauma-informed, patient-centered care.
• Must demonstrate competency in the use of technology including computers, various software applications, printers, scanners, telephones, etc. Must also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, to include understanding and application of technology (hardware, software, equipment and processes).
• Must be physically capable of ensuring personal safety in potentially high-pressure or crisis situations. The ability to maintain physical readiness and stamina to respond effectively to crisis calls is required.
• Pass KBI, DCF Child Abuse Check, Adult Abuse Registry and motor vehicle screens.
• Must be willing and able to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening. Employees may be subject to inclusion in a random drug testing program following hire. A positive result on any drug test may result in immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
• Must meet applicable tuberculosis screening requirements, including providing documentation of required TB testing or chest X-ray and completing additional screening following potential exposure, in accordance with K.A.R. 26-52-9 and applicable Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidance. Additional screening may be required if exposure to an active TB case occurs.
• Provide a statement from an authorized medical practitioner confirming no physical or mental impairment prevents the ability to perform job duties or detailing any necessary accommodations.
• Possess demonstrated interpersonal skills, ability to work with persons with serious mental illness, those who experience significant functional impairment and/or are at risk due to mental illness, and the ability to react effectively in a wide variety of human service situations.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Staff will meet competency expectations, including integration of evidence-based practices and required certifications by successfully completing the following training which will be conducted in all of the following manners, but limited to in-person training, online training, webinars, seminars, workshops, and self-directed training. All training, certifications, and competencies will be documented by completion certificates when available and maintained by the Training department.
• Obtain Certification for Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) training. MOAB is an in-depth training program that teaches individuals how to recognize, reduce, and manage violent and aggressive behavior. Training is provided. 
• First Aid CPR Training.