Mental health technician (Adolescent care unit)

Essential duties, functions and responsibilities

Assists in therapeutic conduction of individual, marital, family and group psychotherapies for adolescents.

Provides patient care to adolescents with acute and chronic mental health problems including depression, suicide ideation, bereavement, psychotic episodes, family conflicts, substance abuse or dependence, and trauma resulting from violence or abuses of emotional, physical or sexual nature.

Coordinates service provision to patients and consults with professional colleagues as needed to promote optimal patient care including appropriate referrals for psychiatric evaluation and/or medication management.

Participates in individual, group, family, and educational therapy sessions with patients.

Works closely with other members of the treatment team in the formulation of care plan for ACU patients.

Observes patients closely, evaluating and recording any significant behavior and reaction patterns for the behavioral health team’s use in reevaluation of treatment plan.

Utilizes therapeutic communication skills in all interactions. Role models de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution/management skills.

Under the directives of the Nurse, provides direct supervision and behavioral health interventions to patients in the inpatient adolescent care unit.

Maintains appropriate records by documenting observations and therapeutic interventions administered to patients.

Under the directives of the Nurse, assists the ACU patients in the performance of their daily activities, milieu management developments and leading with group focused activities, while maintaining a therapeutic care environment.

When appropriate and delegated, provides clinical supervision and training to other peer mental health technicians

Participates in consultation with FDIHB personnel, health professionals, public and private resource agencies to assist patients in resolving medical, social, familial, and behavioral health problems as needed.

When appropriate and delegated, participate in and/or initiates educational, preventive, or advocacy efforts in the community to meet the behavioral health needs of the adolescents’ population and community members at large.

Performs other duties as assigned.