Behavioral Health Technician

Behavioral Health Technician

Position Summary

Behavioral Health Technicians (BHT) interact with clients throughout the shift, assists and supports clients with functional needs. Behavioral Health Technicians are responsible for managing the daily milieu of the facility, ensuring the safety of clients, and maintaining a therapeutic environment. BHTs are expected to familiarize themselves with the histories and needs of the clients and be capable of identifying cues and behaviors that may indicate a change in clients' status or condition. Position is responsible for documenting in the client records and communicating proactively with clinical team members and supervisor(s).

Relationships and Contacts

Within the organization : Maintains frequent and close working relationships with program staff and facility team members throughout the organization. Outside the organization : Initiates and maintains strong professional relationships with clients and families, clinical providers, referral partners and vendors, as needed.

Position Responsibilities Essential Responsibilities

1. Collaborates with clinical team to determine / select appropriate interventions based on the needs of individual clients.

2. Actively participates and engages clients in the milieu and outside activities throughout the workday, often in a variety of group settings.

3. Encourages clients to perform ADLs, which include tasks like cleaning their room, maintaining hygiene, and doing laundry, to include conducting client drug screening, pregnancy tests, and breathalyzer tests as needed.

4. Prompts clients to attend all meals in a timely manner and provides supervision and structure at mealtimes as appropriate.

5. Models effective table manners and small talk during mealtimes, focusing on engaging all clients.

6. Provides, structures, and maintains a therapeutic environment in collaboration with other staff.

7. Therapeutically interacts with the client in one-to-one situations, community, and group meetings, maintaining appropriate boundaries and modeling appropriate social behavior.

8. Collaborates with clinical team to facilitate client education groups.

9. Reacts therapeutically in crisis situations.

10. Recognizes client's level of behavioral functioning and modifies approaches accordingly to include recognizing mood changes and developing DBT coping skills.

11. Maintains therapeutic relationship with clients using praise and other reinforcers to encourage appropriate behaviors and attitudes, setting limits in a kind and firm manner.

12. Documents, in accordance with policies and procedures, services provided, incident reports, shift reports, and group / milieu notes in a timely and accurate manner.

13. Complies with the facility safety procedures as outlined in the policy and procedure manual to include fire drills, evacuation procedures, and internal / external disaster plan.

14. Demonstrates effective verbal intervention skills in managing escalating clients and involving other staff as needed adhering to DBT model and interventions.

15. Performs a vehicle safety and fuel check prior to use of any company vehicle, reporting any concerns to supervisor or manager.

16. Supports clients in effectively managing leisure time, including joining in activities with clients.

17. Greets all guests warmly and friendly.

18. Follows through with clinical precautions effectively, including visual clinical observations.

19. Answers phone and fields calls in an upbeat and positive manner, focusing on customer service.

20. Transports clients to and from appointments, supporting client while regulating in community.

21. Identifies and recognizes triggers for escalation with each client, and utilize de-escalation techniques, focusing on prevention of crisis.

22. Gathers clients for outings and groups to promote program engagement.

23. Supports medication compliance and management of client self-administration.

24. Prepares for client admissions to all levels of care including but not limited to ensuring room is prepared, completes intake documentation, ensures all medications are documented and stored.

25. Conducts client belonging search, inventory and notifying therapist of any contraband.

26. Supports discharge processes, as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Functions within the guidelines of the facility's Code of Ethics and in accordance with corporate compliance.

2. Conduct chart audits following program policy timelines, as requested.

3. Consistently arrives to work on time, rarely missing scheduled shifts, and promptly notifies supervisor when absent.

4. Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.

5. Reads, understands, adheres to, and models all company policy statements on ethics, conduct, and conflict of interests.

6. Adheres to facility policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, implementing regularly.

7. Maintains positive attitude and acts as a team player with others on the treatment team.

8. Attends and completes all training within assigned time frames as required by the facility.

9. Writes clearly, informatively, and effectively.

10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience Position requires High School Diploma. Position requires a minimum of 1 year experience in a behavioral healthcare setting, preferably with clients with Substance Use or Mental Health Disorders. certificate, strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to communicate with peers, clients and / or vendor.

Job performance will require the ability to move throughout the building as well as participate in activities outdoors and off facility grounds.

Performs duties that require the employee to stand and walk for extended periods of time.

May sit or remain stationary for periods of time.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to talk or hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste, or smell.

Ability to move twenty-five pounds. Additional Requirements

Position requires incumbent to have a valid driver's license, vehicle insurance and acceptable driving record.

Clearance of criminal background, TB test, and any other mandatory state / federal requirements.

Current CPR and First Aid certification

Skill Competencies

Understands and maintains professional boundaries.

Demonstrates an understanding of rules / limits of patient confidentiality and maintains appropriate levels of client confidentiality / privacy.

Demonstrates an understanding of identifying abuse / neglect in client population.

Demonstrates behavior that promotes positive customer relations with clients, staff, and visitors.

Contributes to continuous quality improvement can identify performance improvement processes and verbalize role in the process.

Demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to universal precautions, infection control and proper handwashing.

Demonstrates proper procedures in responding to emergency and safety drills.

Demonstrates the ability to recognize and respond to aggressive behavior and employ crisis intervention techniques.

Demonstrates ability to perform CPR and first aid.

Demonstrates ability to observe, supervise, evaluate, and document client behaviors in groups and planned activities.

Demonstrates knowledge of mental health and / or substance use disorders.

Demonstrates the ability to recognize symptoms and distress of clients.

Demonstrates the ability to communicate relevant information pertinent to client care.

Demonstrates consideration of a respect for values and cultural beliefs.

STR Silver Pines provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment. STR Silver Pines reserves the rights to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "At-Will."