Behavioral Health Technician - Behavioral Health Unit

The Impact You Can Make

As a Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Technician or Crisis Services Technician, you are the heartbeat of our therapeutic environment. Working under the guidance of licensed nursing staff, you will provide vital, hands-on care to individuals navigating acute mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. This unique role allows you to make a profound difference by blending essential medical support with empathetic, trauma-informed advocacy in our secure Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit and brand-new Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Why Choose Glens Falls Hospital?

• Paid Specialized Training : Receive fully compensated, gold-standard crisis prevention and clinical orientation certifications (including CIT and BLS) upon hire.
• The Ideal Stepping Stone : Gain highly coveted, hands-on patient care hours perfect for individuals pursuing advanced degrees in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, or Nursing.
• Comprehensive Clinical Exposure : Gain diverse skills by cross-training in both acute inpatient care and emergency psychiatric crisis settings, working with all age groups from pediatric to adult populations.
• Diverse Population Experience : Gain invaluable skills working with both voluntarily admitted and acute patients across all age groups, including pediatric populations.
• A Supportive Environment: Benefit from structured on-the-job training, mentorship from licensed professionals, and a clear pathway for internal career growth.

How You Will Fulfill Your Potential (Responsibilities)

Patient Care & Therapeutic Support

• Build trusting relationships with patients that emphasize personal recovery, resilience, and emotional regulation.
• Deliver trauma-informed care that minimizes restrictive measures and empowers patients to participate in their treatment plans.
• Assist and teach patients with daily living activities, personal hygiene, and nutritional tracking.
• Facilitate therapeutic group activities, holiday celebrations, and movie nights in partnership with programming directors.

Clinical & Technical Assistance

• Perform core medical tasks, including taking vital signs, blood glucose checks, lab specimen collection, 12-lead EKGs, and phlebotomy (blood draws).
• Manage patient intake workflows, including charting, inventorying personal belongings, and orienting new patients to the unit.
• Observe and document patient behaviors, providing clear, timely written and verbal updates promptly to the Registered Nurse regarding any status changes.
• Support the unit by completing basic clerical tasks and escorting patients to off-unit activities.

Safety & Crisis Intervention

• Maintain unit safety and security by conducting safety rounds, room checks, video monitoring, and contraband searches.
• Provide direct visual observation for high-risk patients to ensure the safety of both patients and staff.
• De-escalate tense situations, patient aggression, or behavioral crises using hospital-approved verbal and physical techniques.
• Apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints only when necessary, strictly adhering to physician protocols and safety guidelines.

What You Bring (Qualifications)

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required. Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or a related behavioral field is strongly preferred
• Experience : 1–2 years of healthcare, patient care, or mental health experience is preferred, though a passion for compassionate care is our top priority. OPWDD experience or training highly desired.
• Certifications : Basic Life Support (BLS), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), and NAPPI certifications are required and fully provided by the hospital during your comprehensive onboarding process.
• Core Capabilities : Excellent communication skills, strong conflict de-escalation abilities, and a dedicated comfort level working with diverse populations in high-acuity medical environments.