Mental Health Specialist - New Ground

Brattleboro Retreat; Brattleboro (VT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Brattleboro Retreat seeks a Mental Health Specialist to lead unit operations and provide clinical support, acting as a role model and mentor for staff. You will coordinate daily tasks, ensure safety and therapeutic care, and collaborate with the Charge RN and Clinical Nurse Manager to uphold recovery-oriented standards.

The role emphasizes de-escalation, crisis management, and professional growth through mentorship and training within Brattleboro Retreat’s care philosophy.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 months’ experience as a mental health technician or equivalent at Brattleboro Retreat or equivalent hospital inpatient setting.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services preferred.
• Demonstrated initiative in milieu management and effective communication with the treatment team.

Responsibilities

• Lead unit operations and staff assignments to ensure safety and therapeutic tasks are completed.
• Serve as role model, mentor, and team leader for clinical staff.
• Coach staff in therapeutic communication and group facilitation; support crisis management and de-escalation.

Skills

CPI training

CPR training

Emotional intelligence

Leadership

Multitasking

Therapeutic communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services

Job description

Job Summary:

The Mental Health Specialist provides leadership and clinical support, performing all duties of a Mental Health Technician while serving as a role model, mentor, and team leader. This position coordinates daily unit operations by developing staff assignments, ensuring completion of safety and therapeutic tasks, and maintaining a structured, recovery-oriented environment. Working closely to aid the Charge RN and Clinical Nurse Manager, the Mental Health Specialist promotes consistent application of unit standards, proactive engagement with patients, and effective de-escalation and crisis management.

The MHS demonstrates the ability to lead behavioral emergency responses, coaches staff in therapeutic communication and group facilitation, and supports professional growth through mentorship, training, and feedback. With strong emotional intelligence and sound clinical judgment, this role ensures high-quality patient care, staff collaboration, and adherence to safety, confidentiality, and organizational standards that reflect the Brattleboro Retreat’s core mission and values.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 12 months’ experience working as a mental health technician or equivalent position at the BrattleboroRetreat or an equivalent hospital inpatient organizations
• Bachelor’s degree in human services degree preferred.
• During employment at the Retreat, has continually exhibited initiative in milieu management, exemplary communication with peers and other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Working knowledge of theoretical models of therapeutic care.
• Training in CPI and CPR required, Brattleboro Retreat willprovide.
• Has interpersonal flexibility.
• Ability to multitask.
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence.