Behavioral Health Technician

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Technician I position is responsible for providing direct and supportive care to clients/patients. Duties generally include, but are not limited to, providing general oversight of day to day activities and at times, redirect of clients/patients; health monitoring (vital signs), intervene/respond to crisis and communicate with established treatment team, facilitate group education/structured activities, and/or transport clients/patients as needed. Behavioral Health Technicians are responsible for possessing a basic understanding of client/patient treatment plan, monitoring and documenting client/patient behavior and providing safe, therapeutic, and /supportive environment for clients/patients.

Essential Job Functions:

For Residential Facility and Withdrawal Management:

Admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge clients/patients.

Ensure monitoring of vital signs, signs and symptoms of withdrawal, and possess knowledge to determine need for escalation to medical intervention when critical symptoms present.

Obtain and record vital signs and relevant medical symptoms per policy and/or as indicated by medical personnel when applicable.

Oversee medication administration per policy and procedure and as permitted by appropriate training certifications/permissions.

Adhere to all medication policies and work with trained nursing staff to ensure all medication policies are followed whether self-administered by client/patient or staff-administered when appropriate training permits.

Maintains accurate records of client medications and documents the self-administration of medications by clients or staff administration of medications.

Monitors client self-administration of over the counter (OTC) medications, as well as the inventory and storage of OTC medications.

Properly documents client’s reported blood glucose level as indicated and maintains agency approved equipment per manufacturer’s guidelines.

Reports medication errors and/or medication discrepancies per agency policy and procedures.

Follows Medication Storage and Destruction Policy & Procedure.

Screen and monitor clients/patients for signs and symptoms of withdrawal to ensure that safety and recovery needs are being met (when applicable).

Facilitate client/patient supervision checks per policy and/or procedure or when indicated by a safety/precautions plan.

For Illinois Only in addition to other duties listed: Serve in on-call for shift coverage.

For Residential Care Facility (RCF):

Assist clients/patients with personal care (e.g. grooming, bathing, dressing, etc.) when needed.

Admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge clients/patients.

Ensure monitoring of vital signs and possess knowledge to determine need for escalation to medical intervention when critical symptoms present.

Obtain and record vital signs and relevant medical symptoms per policy and/or as indicated by medical personnel when applicable.

Oversee medication administration per policy and procedure and as permitted by appropriate training certifications/permissions.

Adhere to all medication policies and work with trained nursing staff to ensure all medication policies are followed whether self-administered by client/patient or staff-administered when appropriate training permits.

Maintains accurate records of client medications and documents the self-administration of medications by clients or staff administration of medications.

Monitors client self-administration of over the counter (OTC) medications, as well as the inventory and storage of OTC medications.

Properly documents client’s reported blood glucose level as indicated and maintains agency approved equipment per manufacturer’s guidelines.

Reports medication errors and/or medication discrepancies per agency policy and procedures.

Follows Medication Storage and Destruction Policy & Procedure.

Note: Any self-administration of medication has to be with physician orders (whether OTC or prescribed medications).

Facilitate client/patient supervision checks per policy and/or procedure or when indicated by a safety/precautions plan.

For all locations:

Encourage clients/patients to adhere to program expectations and rules in a trauma informed manner and communicate concerning behaviors to the treatment team and supervisor as soon as possible. The supervisor and/or treatment team will assist with developing/implementing therapeutic interventions.

Participate as an active member of the treatment team by helping to identify client’s strengths, needs, abilities and preferences.

Document and/or report at shift change and/or in client/patient record any exceptional behavior and/or areas of concerns related to client’s behaviors/interactions.

Assist in admission/orientation process with regard to client rights and rules under the supervision of the assigned supervisor. This may include obtaining vital signs, safety search of client/patient and/or belongings and collecting any urine/lab specimens for testing.

Facilitate urine collection, testing, lab send-offs, and document in the client record following policy and procedures.

Operate telephone system, record incoming messages accurately, place telephone calls as necessary or directed practicing good customer service skills and respond to crisis calls as necessary communicating with supervisor and/or treatment team in a timely manner.

Assist, educate, and redirect clients/patients in performing daily activities as needed.

Monitor client activities and document client activities occurring on shifts that are relevant to client’s/patient’s progress or behavior, including bed check documentation during overnight shifts.

Ensure all clients/patients are accounted and present in scheduled activities.

Foster adaptive behavior in clients by encouraging positive social interaction and role-modeling a solution focused approached to issues of concern.

Ensure precaution protocols are adhered to and appropriate documentation occurs.

Assist in monitoring general health conditions of clients/patients facilitating communications with the supervisor or treatment team in a timely manner.

Prepare for and facilitate group rehabilitative support, education, recovery skills, or recreation groups as scheduled and assigned. NOTE: In some programs, this may be a core aspect of job duties.

Provide client/patient transportation as needed to and from appointments. NOTE: In some programs, this may be a core aspect of job duties.

Maintain a standard of behavior that is, at all times, consistent with Organization Code of Conduct and program philosophy.

Complete all mandatory trainings within the required time frame within State Regulatory/CARF Standards.

Attend staff meetings, treatment team meetings, training sessions, etc. as requested by supervisors.

Maintains a safe and clean environment by observing general rules of good housekeeping.

Reports maintenance problems, broken or malfunctioning equipment, other mechanical safety concerns following established reporting procedures.

Be knowledgeable and adhere to all program policies and procedures.

Demonstrate interest in long term and short term goals and objectives of the organization.

Other duties as assigned by Leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of confidentiality laws governing the treatment of substance use and mental health disorder treatment.

Capable of communicating ideas clearly and effectively both verbally and written to produce clear and concise reports.

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Ability to speak effectively with clients, Employees of organization, family members and other community contacts.

Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Basic key-boarding skills and navigate/enter notes within electronic medical record.

Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables within standardized situations.

Ability to establish rapport with client/patient population while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

High School education OR equivalent and two (2) years responsible employment

Experience in Human Services or related field preferred.

OR

Exceptions to the qualifications listed may be made by the appropriate Executive Team member.

St. Louis County Programs:

Bachelor’s Degree, OR

MAADC I or II

For Residential Care Facility (RCF):

Become credentialed as a Level 1 Med Aid (LIMA) and be Insulin Certified within the first ninety (90) days in position.

Supervisory Requirements:

None

Employment Requirements:

Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect and fingerprint check.

Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.

All training requirements including Relias at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.

Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record and current auto insurance

First Aid certification within three (3) months of beginning employment and upon renewal date.

Obtain CPR certification within three (3) months of beginning employment and upon renewal date.

Medication Administration according to the program standards.

Behavioral Management training completed within thirty (30) days of employment or first available class after start date:

CPI for Residential programs

Crisis Management on Relias for Outpatient programs

Achievement of thirty-six (36) hour training requirements within 2 year period in accordance with 9 CSR 10-7.110 E 1. Must complete 40 hours of related training annually

Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the program to which the Employee is assigned.

Valid Driver’s license in state of residency with an acceptable driving record is

Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to operate a company-owned vehicle.

Must be at least twenty-three (23) years of age to operate a company-owned fifteen (15) passenger van.

For Kirksville RCF staff, Illinois staff, and Kansas Residential staff only:

Must provide evidence that incumbent is free of infectious and contagious disease,

such as TB, prior to beginning employment and annually thereafter.

For Adolescent program only:

Within six (6) months of employment, receive training on adolescent behavior, family

dynamics, communication skills, incest, sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse,

stress management and the effect of peer pressure.

Physical Requirements:

ADA Consideration – Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (exists up the 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Repetitive movements of hands, fingers, and arms for typing and/or writing during work shift.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.

Preferred Family Healthcare is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.