Lead Mental Health Technician

Responsibilities

Lead Mental Health Technician – Adolescent Unit.

This full‑time opportunity at Valle Vista offers 40 hours per week, full benefits, and provides care on our adolescent psych unit. There is an opportunity for overtime and to cover various shifts if interested.

Dedicated to excellence and innovation in behavioral health care, Valle Vista Health System has been a leader in providing quality care for more than thirty years for children, adolescents and adults. Licensed by the State of Indiana and fully accredited by the Joint Commission, Valle Vista is a 132‑bed mental health hospital and provides comprehensive treatment for a broad range of psychiatric disorders in a safe and comfortable setting.

Our goal is to help people learn the skills and regain the confidence to function successfully at home, work, school, and in their communities.

For more information, please visit us at

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 recommended corrective action. The Lead Mental Health Technician must have good communication skills and a demonstrated history of positive leadership.

• 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
  • Demonstrate responsibilities for observation and application of sound therapeutic practices for decision making.
  • 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 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,…