| Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)
JOB SUMMARY:
The Behavioral Health Technician works under the direct supervision of the Program Manager of the unit and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of patient behaviors, following daily scheduled patient activities, basic behavior management and intervention, assisting in daily care, crisis situations, and medical emergencies as needed as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. Reports to the Nurse Manager.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of patients including during attending gym/yard activities, crafts/art/group/recreation therapies and outing trips as assigned. Remains alert and aware of potential safety issues at all times. Alleviates any safety issue discovered by self, if appropriate, or by notifying appropriate persons for assistance as necessary.
- Follows Highland-Clarksburg Hospital policies and procedures including personnel, nursing, and administrative policies. Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
- Serves as a positive role model for patients and peers providing examples of appropriate behaviors, effective communication, and conflict resolution. Encourages open, honest communication to facilitate problem solving on the unit.
- Reports to the Nurse Manager or designated administrator any unprofessional conduct or behavior involving patient care or conduct in violation of unit or Hospital policies.
- Charts daily in patient records. Individual is self-motivating and assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, filing, etc. Initiates patient/employee incident reports.
- Provides a verbal report/briefing to the oncoming shift.
- Individual will have a basic knowledge of stages of development throughout the life span. Understanding of common psychiatric disorders and various treatment modalities of children, adolescents, adults, geriatrics and/or dually diagnosed patients according to area worked.
- Leads educational and/or skills-based groups with patients.
- Assists with activities of daily living.
- Obtains and records vital signs and documents all care as required by company policy and in compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Contributes to the patient assessment and care plan.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participates in quality assurance activities and staff development/training programs as assigned. Attend in services and staff meetings on a regular basis. Seeks opportunities of self-growth from internal and/or external sources and initiates the process requesting attendance through the unit program manager.
- Actively participates in unit therapeutic activities according to program schedules.
- Assists with training of peers as assigned.
- Follows infection control policies and assists with infection control rounds as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and Experience BHT I: Less than 2 years of total experience
High school diploma or equivalent plus 0 years -up to 2 years of experience working with children/adolescents or adults in a healthcare setting, providing direct care.
Education and Experience BHT II: 2 years to 4 years of total experience
High school diploma or equivalent. 2 years – up to 4 years total experience working with children/adolescents or adults in a healthcare setting, providing direct care. College credits in psychology, sociology or similarly equivalent mental health courses may be substituted for years of experience.*
Education and Experience BHT III: 4 years plus of total experience
High school diploma or equivalent. 4 Years or more total experience working with children/adolescents or adults in a healthcare setting, providing direct care. College credits in psychology, sociology or similarly equivalent mental health courses may be substituted for years of experience.*
*Allowed substitutions: A Bachelors’ degree in a mental health field may substitute for 4 years of experience. An Associates’ degree in a mental health field may substitute for 3 years of experience. A bachelors’ degree in a non-related mental health field may substitute for two years of work experience; an associate degree in a non-mental health care field may substitute for one year of work experience. Current CNA certification may substitute as six months of work experience; a current MA may substitute for 12 months of work experience. An LPN certificate (unlicensed LPN) may substitute for 12 months of work experience. Some college course work may substitute as follows: each credit hour in mental health course work will equal 1.5 months of experience up to a maximum of 60 months of credit applied experience and will be applied in a manner which most benefits the employee (official transcripts are required.)
Language Skills:
Ability to read and interpret instructions, documents and follow procedures.
Ability to write routine reports and speak effectively with patients and their families, employees and public.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables as needed.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Certificates, Licenses, Registration:
Valid West Virginia driver’s license required.
Other Skills and Abilities:
Ability to work flexible hours,
Ability to work with children, adolescents or adults experiencing mental health
disturbances or dual diagnoses.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak, listen, smell, and use hands. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift or assist a patient and be able to move up to 100 pounds. Incumbent will be expected to participate as necessary in the physical restraint of patients, have the ability to respond to rapidly escalating patient situations, and adapt to the many varied resultant physical posturing as a result of such circumstances after Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
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