licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician in Newcastle upon Tyne

Join a Mission. Build a Future. Save Lives. At First Steps Recovery, we don’t just offer jobs — we offer purpose. As a leading, accredited behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment facility, our work changes lives daily. If you’re driven by compassion, grounded in integrity, and thrive in a supportive, recovery-focused environment, you’re exactly who we’re looking for.

When you join First Steps Recovery, you become part of a tight-knit, multidisciplinary team that values empathy, growth, and evidence-based care. Whether you’re working directly with clients or behind the scenes, every role here matters — and every day is an opportunity to make a difference.

Besides being an amazing company to work for, we also offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision benefits for full time employees
• PTO / Sick Leave Plans for full time and part time employees
• Free Employee Assistance Program for full time and part time employees
• Free Legal consultations and benefits for full time and part time employees
• Free Life Insurance for full time employees
• Generous 401K program for full time and part time employees

If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, we invite you to take your next step with us!

POSITION SUMMARY

Our positions are 3/12's, either a day shift or NOC shift. Working under direct supervision of the Medical Operations Manager, the Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician is responsible to carry out the delivery of medical elements of the program, to perform direct client care, and execute treatment interventions in accordance with company philosophy.

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician works collaboratively with a broad multidisciplinary team to ensure all medical services at the inpatient level of care are provided consistently at or exceeding the established standard of care. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician provides direct client care, modeling, coaching, instruction and training on basic nursing care and behavioral interventions in accordance with established policies, procedures, and best-practices.

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician performs tasks and interventions by engaging in positive behavioral supports, trauma informed care, person-centered practices, and actively promotes the systematic use of nursing and behavioral interventions that follow a least-restrictive approach.

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician exhibits and models their personal and professional interactions consistently at or exceeding the established standard of conduct. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician carries out all assigned basic nursing responsibilities of inpatient detoxification and residential work sites, and actively participates in the department’s development and direction.

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician provides direct support and leadership to assigned unlicensed Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians, Certified Nursing or Medical Assistants, and other supportive staff, and provides functional supervision of activities of other disciplines, when required. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician facilitates ensuring nursing staffing requirements are met and assists the Medical Operations Manager in the orientation and training of assigned nursing staff.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Maintains compliance with HIPAA organizational responsibilities and ensures Department of Health Care Services and Joint Commission policies and procedures are implemented and followed.
• Adheres to program and medical protocols, standards, policies, and procedures and participates in agency quality improvement activities.
• Provides support regarding program specific performance measurement and outcome evaluations.
• Ensures overall program and individual staff compliance with all regulatory standards and community standards of care.
• Provides leadership and guidance to assure staff, facilitates and encourages clients to exercise their rights.
• Participates in interdisciplinary staff meetings to discuss, evaluate, and develop comprehensive treatment plans.
• Attends in-service training as assigned.
• Communicate and collaborate with staff to carry out the company philosophy, vision, mission, and goals.
• Assists in the coordination of ongoing medical care for all clients and provides guidance to assigned staff in person, via phone calls as needed (on-call), and or through other appropriate channels of communication.
• Ensures that assigned tasks are appropriately carried out within their individual scope of practice.
• Ensures compliance with the program’s medical policies and procedures regarding clinical nursing interventions, education, outcome assessments, and documentation standards.
• Assists in the development, education, implementation, and/or revision of nursing related policies.
• Acquires and maintains knowledge of client’s backgrounds, needs, strengths, and goals.
• Advocates on behalf of assigned client needs and ensures documentation is in place related to nursing assessments, interventions, outcomes, and interactions with clients appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Consults with Medical, Executive, and/or Admissions Teams to ensure appropriateness of new intakes for designated level of care.
• Provides written and verbal nursing recommendations, coaching, or training for situations requiring the application of nursing processes.
• Promotes client’s self-reliance in all activities and facilitates client independence.
• Coordinates the admissions process for new clients as it relates to medical and nursing care.
• Facilitates functional and appropriate grouping of clients upon admission and throughout their treatment.
• Initiates and reviews continued appropriateness for each client’s level of care designation and manages applicable assessment and observation intervals.
• Oversees the medication ordering, storage, administration, and destruction processes.
• Identifies, reports, and/or corrects any hazards/unsafe environmental situation or defective equipment immediately.
• Participates in the effective training of new direct care and supportive staff on job duties and responsibilities, monitors job performance of staff and reports performance issues to Medical Operations Manager.
• Initiates and supports appropriate training related to any deficiencies or areas of quality improvement for direct care and supportive staff.
• Facilitates team building and collaboration between operational departments.
• Serves as a resource to the Medical Operations Manager and Medical Staff, communicating verbally and/or in writing any concerns, problems, needs, etc. for the proper functioning of all inpatient work sites.
• May act on behalf of the Nurse Supervisor during his or her absence, as designated, and in a capacity permitted by their own professional scope of practice.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements Competencies

• Ability to multi-task, delegate tasks, manage client care, maintain facility standards.
• Desire to assist those with chemical dependency in their recovery.

Education

• Minimum High School Graduate or GED.
• 2 years college preferred with emphasis in Human Services.
• Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certification Desired.

Experience

• 1-2 years experience in the field of recovery or equivalent human services work experience preferred.
• Prior experience in detox environment highly desired.
• Robust knowledge of detox medications and protocols.

Computer Skills

• Computer Literacy in doc, spreadsheet, and email.
• Proficiency in KIPU Systems Client Management Software.

Certificates & Licenses

• LVN license or LPT license.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• CPR/First AID.

Other Requirements

• Negative TB test results.
• Medical Clearance to work.
• Ability to pass a background check.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Frequently: Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ hrs./day) Occasionally: Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs./day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician may be assigned to work at various sites to meet nursing staffing requirements and may be required to work extended hours and/or varying shifts. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician attends and participates in routine training and departmental meetings as required.

WORK CONDITIONS

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, endurance, and sensory ability to perform the duties contained in this duty statement. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician must be able and willing to work with clients who present with a wide variety of physical and psychiatric symptoms related to substance abuse and mental health disorders. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician promptly responds to all medical or psychiatric emergencies that occur during their assigned working hours. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician performs their duties with an understanding of and sensitivity toward working with multi-cultural populations, as well as an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.

Common to a clinical nursing environment, there is a potential of exposure to communicable diseases, blood-borne pathogens, medicinal preparations, and other conditions. The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician is a mandated reporter of observed or suspected abuse or neglect.

Supervision Exercised

None

Supervision Received

Medical Operations Manager, and/or Nursing Supervisor

BLOOD/FLUID EXPOSURE RISK

Some job tasks involve exposure to blood, body fluids and/or tissue. Staff must wear gloves and follow infectious control procedures when interacting with clients in conditions in which exposure is possible such as handling onsite urinary analysis, conducting first aid, and conducting search of client’s belonging and person. Staff may be exposed to infectious disease, needles, and illicit substances during searches.

Work Schedule

The Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician and Medical Operations Manager acknowledge that by signing this Job Description that they have discussed and do agree to these expectations of the position.