Mental Health Tech PRN/Days

Palestine Regional Medical Center; Palestine (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Palestine Regional Medical Center in Palestine, TX, is seeking a Mental Health Worker to provide supportive care in an inpatient behavioral health unit under RN supervision.

The role includes assisting with ADLs, monitoring safety, documenting progress, and participating in therapeutic activities to promote recovery.

Qualifications

• Therapeutic interaction with patients while maintaining boundaries.
• Clear verbal and written communication.
• Understanding of behavioral health principles and patient rights.
• Ability to handle emergencies calmly under pressure.
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
• Confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear regularly.
• Observation and reporting of changes in patient status.
• Safety monitoring including suicide risk and restraints per policy.
• Accurate documentation of patient care and progress.
• Ability to adapt to flexible scheduling including weekends/holidays.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with ADLs including hygiene, nutrition, mobility.
• Observe patients and report changes to nursing staff.
• Maintain a safe, clean, therapeutic environment.
• Monitor safety, suicide risk, elopement risk, and restraints per policy.
• Support therapeutic programming and group activities; assist in crisis interventions.
• Document patient care and progress in the medical record.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team to support goals.
• Provide age-appropriate care across the lifespan.

Skills

Therapeutic interaction with patients

Verbal and written communication

Behavioral health principles

Emergency management

Team player

Confidentiality/compliance

ADL support (stand/walk/sit)

Observation and reporting

Safety monitoring (crisis prevention)

Documentation

Flexible scheduling

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent; Associate/Bachelor in Psychology or related field (Preferred)

Job description

Description

Join Palestine Regional Medical Center in Palestine, TX, a 150-bed hospital that has recently earned the prestigious Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade, the Platinum Award for quality from parent-company ScionHealth, and certification as a Chest Pain Center and Level IV Trauma facility. Palestine Regional provides a range of comprehensive care, including the latest in diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services, both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Palestine Regional is an integral part of the local community, giving you the chance to grow your career while making a real impact close to home.

Job Summary

The Mental Health Worker provides supportive care to patients receiving inpatient behavioral health services. Working under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, the Mental Health Worker assists with activities of daily living, maintains a safe and therapeutic environment, monitors patient behavior, and supports treatment interventions. This role contributes to the overall care team by observing, reporting, and documenting patient progress, assisting in crisis intervention, and participating in therapeutic activities designed to promote recovery.

Essential Functions

• Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) including hygiene, nutrition, and mobility.
• Observe patients and promptly report changes in behavior, mood, or physical condition to the nursing team.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment.
• Monitor patients for safety, including suicide risk precautions, elopement risk, and use of restraints per policy.
• Support therapeutic programming by encouraging patient participation and assisting in group activities.
• De-escalate and intervene in crisis situations using approved techniques to maintain safety.
• Accurately document patient care and progress in the medical record.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team to support individualized treatment goals.
• Provide age-appropriate care across the lifespan in accordance with hospital policy.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Ability to interact therapeutically with patients while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of behavioral health principles, safety practices, and patient rights.
• Ability to manage stressful situations and respond calmly in emergencies.
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and compliance with regulations.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear.
• Frequent reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting of patients or objects up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
• Ability to visually and audibly monitor patient behavior and safety needs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Work performed in an inpatient behavioral health unit with potential exposure to patients experiencing psychiatric crises.
• May involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials, following standard precautions.
• Noise level may be moderate to loud depending on patient activity.
• Requires flexibility in scheduling, including weekends, holidays, and varying shifts to meet patient care needs.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or Equivalent including education equivalent to completion of secondary school or demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the role. AND Associate’s Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field (Preferred

Licenses/Certifications

• BCLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire (Required) And
• NCI -Non-violent Crisis Intervention or current program Within Facility-Specified time frame (Required)

Experience

• Experience working in a behavioral health, psychiatric, or healthcare setting preferred.