There are many people that are essential to making sure that Ascend is operating to its fullest capacity. Some of our most important team members include mentors and overnight techs who provide 24-hour care and assistance to all of our clients. While mentors work during the day and interact with clients during waking hours, overnight techs are there to watch over them at night. One of our overnight techs is Franco, a dedicated team member that’s been with us for years!
Follow along with us as we explore what an overnight tech does at Ascend and how they keep our clients safe and happy.
What is an Overnight Tech
An overnight tech does much more than watch clients sleep. When Franco clocks in, he has to complete a med count with the previous shift, sanitize the whole house, check up on client chores, and make rounds every 15 minutes. Whether a client wakes up from a trauma-induced nightmare or someone needs a midnight snack, Franco is there to help.
On any given day, Franco may need to collaborate with the lead mentors, help the nurses distribute medications, and oversee client chores ? like stripping their beds for laundry day. You might even find him playing UNO with the clients until the next shift arrives to relieve him!
Franco Loves His Job
Franco has been an overnight tech at Ascend for almost five years! But he didn’t always work for us. He started his career working as a nursing assistant and behavioral tech at hospitals and detox centers, often in colder, less hospitable environments. Since transitioning to Ascend, he’s found that residential treatment provides something a little different. With a focus on creating a nurturing, comfortable space for teens, Franco gets to see a more supportive side of mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Why Ascend?
There are so many residential treatment centers in California, so why did Franco choose Ascend? He says that Ascend provides much more than just support for clients ? he also feels that support for employees! Franco says that Ascend has challenged him to evolve and grow as an overnight tech to improve his career path, as well as meeting his mental, physical, emotional, and financial needs. He loves working with Ascend because we create a respectful, rewarding, and motivating work environment.
Franco’s Passion Projects
At Ascend, we encourage our clients to develop passion projects that help them connect with others, process mental health concerns, and find new joy in life. We also encourage our staff to find passion projects, as well. For Franco, that means opening his own soccer facility. He used to train and coach kids, and that’s the ultimate goal for his career. He wants to get back on the field and help more kids find fun, passion, and empowerment through sports!
With our new recreational-therapy-focused facility opening, we’re all about using sports as a mental health treatment technique too!
We’re Here to Help Everyone Thrive
From our newest clients to our most experienced staff members, we want everyone associated with Ascend to reach their fullest potential! If you want to get more glimpses into the day-to-day life of other Ascend team members, keep checking our blog for more Day in the Life spotlights!
You can also find some highlights of other positions at Ascend, like admissions with Alicia, therapy with David, and facility management with Zack!