Psychiatric Technician (QMHA)

Albertina Kerr; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Life insurance

Training and career development

Paid holidays and time off

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Albertina Kerr in Portland, OR seeks a Psychiatric Technician (QMHA registered or eligible) to provide direct care to children and adolescents during acute psychiatric episodes. You will facilitate groups, guide education activities, and support daily living tasks within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include evaluating clients, applying treatment plans, documenting notes, and ensuring safety. The role requires QMHA certification or eligibility and a commitment to trauma-informed,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant area or 3 years of behavioral health experience.
• QMHA certification required.
• QMHA eligibility within 90 days of start date if not certified at hire.
• Demonstrated experience with high-behavioral-acuity clients.
• Ability to interact effectively with clients, families, and peers.

Responsibilities

• Conducts evaluations and assessments of clients.
• Ensures client safety and provides basic needs support.
• Consults treatment plans to guide care.
• Teaches social skills and facilitates socialization.
• Leads educational and therapeutic groups.
• Maintains incident reporting and mandatory abuse reporting.

Skills

QMHA certification

Child & adolescent care

Group facilitation

Documentation

Verbal & written communication

Basic math skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant area

QMHA certification

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

At Albertina Kerr, we believe that all people thrive in nurturing and inclusive communities. Our mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges to lead self-determined lives in their communities.As a Psychiatric Technician who is QMHA registered or eligible, you will provide direct care and support to children and adolescents experiencing an acute psychiatric episode. This is an extraordinary opportunity to enter or grow your career in the mental health field. You'll facilitate skills groups and education groups, guide structured recreational activities, and support the children and adolescents we serve in their daily activities. Kerr utilizes Collaborative Problem Solving in helping children with behavioral challenges. This strength-based model fosters the understanding that kids do well if they can. Our Children's Psychiatric Crisis (Subacute) program offers short-time, safe, and secure residential placement for children and teens who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Services focus on mental health stabilization, psychiatric evaluation, and transitional planning with an average length of stay around three weeks. Common diagnoses include major depression, suicide ideation, and anxiety. You'll support a diverse population, including transgender and nonbinary youth as part of an impactful, multidisciplinary team.

Essential Duties

• Conducts evaluations and assessments of clients.
• Ensures clients personal safety and provide with basic needs: adequate food, clean clothing, and assistance in areas of hygiene when needed.
• Consults treatment plan to implement appropriate care for developmental needs.
• Teaches social skills and provides appropriate opportunities for socialization.
• Facilitates educational groups and therapeutic skills groups for clients.
• Consistently fulfills the duties of a mandatory abuse reporter.
• Documents notes and carries out incident reporting.
• Performs safe-guarding interventions.
• Completes cleaning and housekeeping tasks.

Benefits

• Paid medical, dental, and vision employee benefits
• Paid basic life & accident insurance
• Paid internal training and career development
• Paid holidays and generous time off
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with up to 4% employer match
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) that provides resources for everything from mental health to pet insurance and financial counselling

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant area of study as defined by the QMHA certification or 3 years of relevant behavioral health occupational experience.
• QMHA certification required.
• Passage of QMHA eligibility at 90 days after start of employment is required if employee does not have it at time of hire.
• Visit MHACBO for more details.
• Demonstrated experience and skill in working with clients with high level of behavioral acuity.
• Understanding of age specific child development.
• Ability to interact effectively with clients, families, and peers.
• Adept problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to constantly apply adequate visual and auditory senses to supervise and care for individuals served.
• Proficient computer skills, and capacity to learn new operating systems and applications.
• Basic math skills.
• Physical requirements: Ability to lift, push, bend and pull; stand or move about; raise arms in an unsupported position; twist from side to side at the waist; reach for objects; perform similar repetitive hand operations or other fatiguing demands for over five hours per day.
• Ability to safely perform Oregon Intervention System (OIS) requirements for physical intervention techniques.