MENTAL HEALTH TECH I

Company: University of New Mexico - Hospitals
Location: Albuquerque
Posted on: January 5, 2026

Job Description:

Sign-On Bonus Available Relocation Assistance Available Receive 17% Weekday Nights, 26% Weekend Nights and 15% Weekend Day shift differentials Minimum Offer $16.22/hr. Maximum Offer $ 21.26/hr. Compensation Disclaimer Compensation for this role is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations. Department: Psychiatric Emergency Services - UPC FTE: 0.90 Full Time Shift: Nights Position Summary: Provide child, adolescent, or adult patient care in a treatment or educational milieu; assist in the maintenance of a safe, secure environment that enhances treatment and/or educational effectiveness. May operate in an in-patient/residential environment, or in outreach environment, such as in homes, schools, and/or community agencies. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups. Detailed responsibilities: * PATIENT CARE - Provide care to patient in a manner that considers and promotes safety, comfort, and the therapeutic environment * EDUCATION - Provide education and training specific to individual patient needs, abilities, learning preferences and readiness; provide educational resources to patients and/or family members in coordination with treatment team * CHARTING - Chart observations and other required documentation on assigned patients, behaviors, following prescribed procedures and standards; chart according to treatment plan; use electronic medical record when required * PHYSICAL NEEDS - Assist with the physical needs of patients; may include taking manual vital signs, weights, and urine, stool, and sputum specimens as designated * PATIENT CARE - Assist patients with activities of daily living; attend to patient behavioral problems and provide assistance and coordination in crisis intervention as needed * PATIENT TREATMENT - Participate in the development, coordination and implementation of patient treatment programs * CONFIDENTIALITY - Maintain confidentiality of patient records, adhering to HIPAA guidelines * LIAISON - In collaboration with treatment team, may act as liaison with other departments, staff and patients * TRANSPORT - Transport patients to and from appointments, clinics, laboratories, and/or treatments * ACTIVITIES - Work with other multi-disciplinary team members to lead milieu activities such as activities of daily living, current events, goals and fitness groups; community meetings, school and/or recreational activities as appropriate * MEETINGS - Attend and participate in group sessions, in-service education, and staff meetings * REGISTRATION - Process patient admission and registration as appropriate * COMPUTER - Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing and accessing appropriate computer and information system * CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM - Ensure and monitor that the Crisis Response Team is adequately staffed per shift as appropriate and assigned * CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM - Participate as a member of the Crisis Response Team responding to calls related to psychiatric services or assessed as a psychiatric crisis; assist staff with patients in crisis; assist with transports of psychiatric patients * PHLEBOTOMY - May perform phlebotomy duties as assigned * LIAISON - In collaboration with treatment team, may act as liaison with other hospitals, law enforcement agencies and families of patients * TRAINING - Provides staff training in coordination with Behavioral Health Education as directed by management; may include BLS, CPI and/or First Aid instruction * PATIENT ASSISTANCE - Coordinate, lead, and/or train mental health and/or other patient care staff, as assigned and appropriate, in the performance of day-to-day patient assistance duties * DIRECTION - Provide direction and coordination to staff as assigned and appropriate * LIAISON - Act as communication liaison to supervisor/charge nurse to report unit issues and provide end-of-shift report * ORDER ENTRY - Complete order entry of lab work, x-rays and/or other patient procedures as designated * OVERSEE - Oversees the logistics and functioning of assigned units to assure a therapeutic milieu * PRECEPT - Act as preceptor for staff as assigned and designated by management * TRAINING - In collaboration with Behavioral Health Education or designated staff, may develop a staff or patient training/education course or group, or teach an existing/ongoing course or group as directed * UNIT DUTIES - Monitor completion and accuracy of charting, cleaning and other unit duties as designated * SAFETY - Assist patients to regain behavior control; escort patients to safe area using least restrictive means possible; apply restraints as needed; assist with administration of emergency medications and daily living activities * OTHER DUTIES - Perform other duties as assigned or requested * POLICIES - Follow and maintain established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, and quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards * DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops * PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols * PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes * PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk * PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner * PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right" Qualifications Related Education and Experience may be substituted for one another on a year for year basis. Education: Essential: * High School or GED Equivalent * Training Education specialization: Essential: * UNMH Mental Health Tech Training Experience: Essential: 1 year directly related experience Nonessential: No preferred experience Credentials: Essential: * CPR for Healthcare/BLS Prov or Prof Rescuers w/in 30 days * Obtain and maintain Agressive Behav Cer w/in 30 days of hire Physical Conditions: Heavy Work: Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects or people. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work. Working conditions: Essential: * Sig Haz: Physical risk/injuries due to combative patients * Sig Hazard: Chemicals, Bio Hazardous Materials req PPE * Limited access to med room. Med Admin Policy, Att A * Tuberculosis testing is completed upon hire and additionally as required Department: Behavioral and Mental Health

Keywords: University of New Mexico - Hospitals, Albuquerque , MENTAL HEALTH TECH I, Healthcare , Albuquerque, New Mexico