Behavioral Health Tech

Job Summary 

The Behavioral Health Technician will function as support to licensed behavioral health personnel. With minimum supervision the BHT provides therapeutic services and individualized patient care with particular attention to the mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of the patient and the family. 

• Level 1 
  • Provide specific care under the direction of licensed behavioral health personnel and ensure that activities of daily living are provided including hygiene, mobility, and feeding. 
  • Provide crisis intervention, didactic, and activity groups for patients. Demonstrate basic knowledge of psychiatric medications. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to handle disruptions in the milieu without injury to patients or staff by applying effective therapeutic interventions. 
  • Collaborate in the development, implementation, monitoring, review, and revision of treatment plans and treatment goals. 
  • Monitor patients taking medication. 
  • Perform patient care: Accucheck, vital signs, height & weight, Intake & Output procedures, and any specimen collection. 
  • Assist with food delivery and tray pick-up. Assist patients with meals. Monitor intake. 
  • Process patient admissions and transfers from other units. Complete appropriate procedures of belongings and clothing inventory, contraband checks, and medications. Assemble chart and initiate observation checklist. 
  • Complete daily routine: morning vital signs, shift report, assignments and assignment sheet, patient and Family Education forms, and chart checks. 
  • Complete nightly routine: Lights out, chart stuffing/filing, chart audits, discharge summary, 
  • Follow discharge process: retrieve items from the safe, disposition of belongings, chart broken down. Complete discharge documentation including Inventory form and patient satisfaction survey. 
  • Maintain orderliness of environment of care. Maintain temperature, lighting, and noise control. 
  • Maintain orderly storage of equipment, return all equipment used, label and report any malfunctioning equipment. 
  • Maintain licensing regulations and policy requirements for treatment of clients, treatment plans, crisis management, and ethical behavior. 
  • Maintain established departmental policies and procedures, safety, environmental, and infection control standards. Complete work in accordance to specific standards with minimal supervision. 
  • Follow patient safety procedures including patient identification, observation, and crisis management. Perform all duties in a safe manner with respect to the safety of self and others. 
  • Operate a multiple-line telephone. Utilize voice messaging appropriately. Relay information pertaining to patient care within scope of practice in a timely manner to other team members. 
• Level 2 – Proficient (in addition to above duties) 
  • Promote awareness of differing cultural, social, and religious needs among patients, family and caregivers. 
  • Demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks according to urgency. Develop a routine that allows for maximum use of time. Exhibit ability to effectively multitask. 
• Level 3 – Subject Matter Expert (in addition to above duties) 
  • Practice problem solving techniques by verbalizing proper steps to take during a confrontational situation. 
  • Participate in quality improvement measures within the department. 
  • Serve as a preceptor for new Behavioral Technicians and assist with training new staff.

• Minimum Requirements 
  • Education: High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (G.E.D.) 
  • Experience: Six weeks of Behavioral Health work experience. 
  • Licensure/Certifications: BLS, Current CPR, CPI (or equivalent). (Can obtain during orientation). 
• Preferred Requirements 
  • Education: Associates or Bachelors Degree in behavioral health related field. 
  • Experience: Two years of Behavioral Health experience on an acute, inpatient psychiatric unit providing direct care to patients 

 
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