Behavioral Health Technician (52923)

Position Summary:

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) supervises program residents under the guidance of the Lead Behavioral Health Technician(s). The BHT acts as a role model for residents, demonstrating professional behaviors and having regular positive interactions that align with WestCares ethical standards. Essential Job Functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

- Monitors designated residents under the direction of the Program Director, reporting unusual changes as they occur;

- Facilitates mentoring, discipline, safety, and shift/overnight observation of residents;

- Completes support documentation, providing information to third parties as required;

- Utilizes approved crisis intervention techniques to assist with de-escalation of situations, ensuring resident, staff, and visitor safety;

- Implements the behavioral/level system where applicable;

- Participates in 24/7 coverage by working a flexible schedule, properly tracking hours worked, and consistently arriving to scheduled shifts on time;

- Transports residents to work, school, and/or required meetings/appointments as required;

- Monitors resident whereabouts to be sure they remain on the property, or have appropriate paperwork needed to leave the property;

- Assists in the implementation of recreational activities for residents, participating where appropriate;

- Ensures the facility is kept clean and in working order;

- Ensures resident medication is processed upon admission and given on time, in accordance with procedure;

- Documents incidents accurately and in a timely manner, using WestCares Incident Reporting system;

- Embraces and embodies the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation;

- Performs any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licensures:

- Relevant certification(s) and/or licensure preferred; Preference will be given certified candidates;

- Active CPR Certification preferred at the time of hire;

- Valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required.

Education:

- Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or other field related to the position is preferred;

- High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies:

- At least one (1) year of experience working in a behavioral health setting or similar position required;

- Ability to analyze situations and develop appropriate responses or techniques required;

- Excellent communication skills are required;

- Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion required;

- Ability to work well in a team environment required;

- Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality required;

- Ability to work a flexible schedule in a fast-paced environment;

- Professional appearance and demeanor required;

- Knowledge of the principles, procedures, techniques, trends, and literature related to prevention and substance abuse preferred;

- Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served.

Working Conditions:

- Work is primarily performed in a residential treatment setting;

- Some outdoor activities travel between multiple locations may be required;

- Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

- Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending,  twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds.  Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).

- Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.

- Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.

- Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.

- Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

- The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues.  However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

- Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.

- Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.

- Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.

- Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.