How to hire a mental health technician lead

How to hire a mental health technician lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mental health technician lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mental health technician lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mental health technician lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your mental health technician lead job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a mental health technician lead for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mental health technician lead to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mental health technician lead that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of mental health technician lead salaries for various roles:

   Type of Mental Health Technician Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Mental Health Technician Lead	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	$13-27
   Case Manager	A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy... Show more	$14-29
   Clinician	A clinician specializes in providing diagnosis, treatment, and direct care to patients with different illnesses. A clinician's duties mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, providing medical care through various therapies, and improving one's overall health condition... Show more	$16-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Social Work
   • CPR
   • Mental Health Issues
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Role Model
   • Vital Signs
   • Substance Abuse
   • CPI
   • Therapeutic Environment
   • Mental Illness
   • Direct Patient Care
   • Autism

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage other MHA's in their duties and help them problem solving in tense and stressful situations.
   • Certify NCI, CPI and CPR.
   • Utilize NCI and CPR training when necessary.
   • Assist in providing an appropriate setting by providing patients with positive reinforcements and natural and logical consequences as appropriate.
   • Delegate work responsibilities, monitor performance levels, and ensure patients are appropriately care for and document on each shift.
   • Provide clear lines of responsibility and accountability within the BHT department; delegates appropriate authority for completion of assign responsibilities.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mental health technician lead job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A mental health technician lead can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, mental health technician leads' average salary in arkansas is 59% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mental health technician leads 50% less than senior-level mental health technician leads.
   • Certifications. A mental health technician lead with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a mental health technician lead's salary.

   Average mental health technician lead salary

   $41,525yearly

   $19.96 hourly rate

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   Entry-level mental health technician lead salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a mental health technician lead job description

   A good mental health technician lead job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a mental health technician lead job description:

   Mental health technician lead job description example

   Responsibilities
   
   Lead Mental Health Technician (7PM- 7AM)
   
   Universal Health Services, Inc., one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, our annual revenues were $11.4 billion in 2019. In 2020, UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; in 2019, ranked #293 on the Fortune 500; and in 2017, listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America's Top 500 Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has more than 90,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates 26 acute care hospitals, 328 behavioral health facilities, 42 outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 37 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
   
   Newport News Behavioral Health Center:
   
   At Newport News Behavioral Health Center, were always learning, growing, and focused on our effort to provide the highest quality and compassionate care to our patients. If you are interested in a career, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the patients and families you serve, then Newport News Behavioral Health Center is the place for you! Come join our team! Located in beautiful Newport News, near historic Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach VA. Our extraordinary people are in the right place making a positive difference in the lives of children every day! Newport News Behavioral Health Center offers hope and healing, providing intensive residential and acute treatment, for males and females ages 8-21.
   
   POSITION SUMMARY:
   
   Responsible as a member of the program team, observes and reports physical and behavioral symptoms under the supervision of the Acute Nurse Manager and/or Registered Nurse. The Lead Mental Health Technician (MHT) is an active participant in the implementation of physical care, therapeutic activities, and the academic program. Assist in planning and implementing treatment programs for patients, implements functional behavioral assessment/behavior intervention plans. The Lead MHT will provide additional support to the leadership team buy providing oversight of the unit supplies, unit activities, and staff unit paperwork.
   
   Qualifications
   
   POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   Must have least one (1) year of experience working in a residential, acute or inpatient psychiatric setting; an Associate's Degree in Psychology or related field from an accredited University or College and at least two (2) years of experience working in a residential, acute or inpatient psychiatric setting; a high school diploma or a General Education Development Certificate (G.E.D.) and a minimum of three (3) years of experience working with children. Must be Handle with Care, CPR and First Aid certified and hold a valid Virginia Driver's License. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment. Prefer 1 year of experience leading a team in a unit and/or department.
   
   Benefit Highlights:
   
   * Challenging and rewarding work environment
   * Career development opportunities within UHS and its Subsidiaries
   * Competitive Compensation
   * Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
   * 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
   * Generous Paid Time Off
   
   UHS is a registered trademark of UHS of Delaware, Inc., the management company for Universal Health Services, Inc. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. Universal Health Services, Inc. is a holding company and operates through its subsidiaries including its management company, UHS of Delaware, Inc. All healthcare and management operations are conducted by subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. To the extent any reference to "UHS or UHS facilities" on this website including any statements, articles or other publications contained herein relates to our healthcare or management operations it is referring to Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Further, the terms "we," "us," "our" or "the company" in such context similarly refer to the operations of Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Any employment referenced in this website is not with Universal Health Services, Inc. but solely with one of its subsidiaries including but not limited to UHS of Delaware, Inc.
   
   UHS is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at UHS via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of UHS. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by UHS as a result of the referral or through other means.
   
   All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find mental health technician leads for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mental health technician lead job on Zippia to find and recruit mental health technician lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mental health technician leads, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mental health technician lead

   Once you've decided on a perfect mental health technician lead candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mental health technician lead. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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