Behavioral Health Technician PRN Nights

Oceans Healthcare; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Waco is seeking a Mental Health Technician to support nursing staff in delivering compassionate psychiatric care to adults and seniors with anxiety, depression, and related conditions.

The MHT will help maintain a therapeutic environment, perform routine patient care tasks, and document observations for the treatment team, ensuring safety and adherence to regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with CNA certification or at least 6 months of bedside patient care experience.
• Ability to read, write and follow verbal and written instructions; strong communication skills.
• CPR certification and Oceans approved de‑escalation program required.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to professional standards and follow policies and regulations.
• Apply supportive behavior and use de-escalation techniques to manage challenging behavior.
• Inventory patient belongings and perform unit safety checks.
• Follow infection control policies and attend required trainings.
• Perform vital signs, ADL, intake/output documentation, and monitor nutrition.
• Communicate patient observations to the nurse with accuracy and timeliness.
• Assist with mobility, meals, and personal cares; protect patient dignity.
• Document departures from unit and ensure continuity of care.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

CNA certification

Bedside care

CPR certification

De-escalation

Reading/Writing

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CNA certification

Job description

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Waco, healing is our focus. We are passionate about helping adults and seniors manage the challenges associated with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Utilizing proven, innovative and progressive therapies, our qualified professionals strive to promote long‑term wellness through a range of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric counseling and treatment options.

The Mental Health Technician (MHT) supports the nursing staff in maintaining a therapeutic milieu by performing routinely assigned tasks and carrying out patient care activities within the scope of the MHT's training and experience. The MHT will maintain a safe and professional standard for patient care in accordance with Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures and performance improvement standards.

Essential Functions

• Adhere to professional standards, follow policies and procedures and abide by federal, state and local requirements, as well as Joint Commission standards.
• Effectively applies supportive behavior when assisting in the control of patients who exhibit unacceptable behavior. Demonstrates the ability to employ de‑escalation and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Inventories patient belongings accurately and secures contraband as needed; completes unit safety checks.
• Complies with standard/universal precautions and infection control policies and attends required in‑services to keep self‑informed.
• Implements patient care activities under the direction and supervision of licensed nursing personnel; performs vital signs, weights, ADL, intake and output documentation, nutritional monitoring and communicates findings to the nurse. Ensuring patients or residents receive appropriate diet by reviewing their dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences.
• Assists patients with laundry, meals, bathroom functions and maintaining of belongings; assists at risk and/or physically challenged patients with mobility needs as needed.
• Individualizes all patient care activities to the age specific, disability, cultural sensitivity needs of the patient.
• Communicates and documents patient observation and date effectively in the patient record.; documents patient's departure from unit (i.e. for passes, transport to doctor’s appointment, community meetings) with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines; documents significant occurrences, observed behavior, vital signs, nutrition intake, and patient observation findings on assigned patients as requested by the registered nurse, with 100% accuracy and within defined time lines.
• Communicates outcome of assigned tasks to nursing staff in a timely manner; Communicates follow‐up on patient care responsibilities; incomplete assignments, ongoing activities and current patient needs to relevant staff to assure continuality of care.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

Education / Experience

High school graduate or equivalent with CNA certification or at least 6 months of prior bedside, direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting is required.

Skills / Qualifications

Must be able to read, write and follow verbal and written instruction. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must work well with diverse populations. Must utilize Age, Disability and Cultural Specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients. Must be in good physical and mental health as evidenced by a warm empathetic attitude, respect for dignity, worth and potentiality of clients and hold a high sense of personal integrity. Must be able to work under close supervision. Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans approved behavioral de‑escalation program.