Behavioral Health Technician-Residential (S0044)

Description

Job General Purpose

The purpose of the Behavioral Health Technician position is to support patients in crisis using an empathic team approach.  The Behavioral Health Technician provides psychoeducation, activities, and support services to patients while receiving care in a 24-7 residential care unit. They are an important member of the service delivery team ensuring patients are able to safely discharge back into their communities.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities/Functions

• Support and promote the well-being of our community members in a safe and non-threatening setting. 
• Facilitates client participation in their service plan through interaction with them as a source of emotional support, resource, problem solver and advocate.
• Monitors and directs clients' compliance with program rules, guidelines and directives while they participate in all aspects of treatment both within and outside the facility.  Provides a positive role model for the client.
• Observes client behavior to identify change or indicators of special needs and shares those observations with designated staff as needed in order to carry out necessary action plan.
• Maintains clinical and other operational records as required.
• Maintains communication with family and key others in a professional manner consistent with the client's service plan where appropriate.
• Provides individual, group, and family support where appropriate and designated by supervisor.
• Attends and participates in regular supervision and staff meetings and evaluation of client progress in staffings.
• Refers and links clients to needed community resources in order to maximize client functioning, acting as advocate to provide support when needed.
• Ability to work with outside agencies in managing client care.
• Medical monitoring, including but not limited to auditing client’s medications and proper documentation.
• General housekeeping duties including but not limited to sweeping, mopping, making beds, and wiping down surfaces.
• Ability to transport clients and pick up meals as needed.
• Must be committed to confidentiality at all times and exercise careful judgment to ensure the privacy and welfare of those with whom we work and those we serve.
• Incorporates integrated care strategies for treating the whole person.
• Demonstrates competency using Electronic Clinical Record and responding to alerts.

Other Duties/Responsibilities/Functions

• Ability to transport clients and pick up meals as needed.
• General housekeeping duties including but not limited to sweeping, mopping, and wiping down surfaces to ensure a clean and safe environment in the Walk-In Center.

Miscellaneous Duties/Responsibilities as Assigned

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice

Program and/or Department Duties/Responsibilities/Functions

The Behavioral Health Technician may be expected to perform duties shared with other staff or programs or departments.

Basic Duties/Responsibilities

• Attendance/Punctuality: Arrives to work on time, follows the required call-in procedures for attendance and attends meetings on time.
• Communication and Customer Service: Commits to prompt and clear communication in service to both internal and external customers by returning phone calls and e-mails quickly and ensuring response within two business days unless extenuating circumstances apply.
• Compliance and Ethics: Adheres to AHS Corporate Compliance plan and complies with AHS Code of Conduct. 
• Cultural Competence: Respects and accommodates diverse cultures and the diversity of health beliefs held by disparate populations as demonstrated through appropriate language and interactions.
• Teamwork: Actively seeks and provides guidance, and is a contributor to the organization and any teams or committees they are involved in.  The employee is respectful, kind and helpful when collaborating with other staff.
• Training E-Learning Courses: Completes all required essential learning courses by the due date.
• Training: Attends all mandatory staff meetings and trainings.

Job Specific Measurable Standards

1. During the day shift or evening shift, documents all patient interactions demonstrating quality care and follow-up is made.
2. Maintain positive and collaborative relationships with all community partners by providing timely response to all requests.
3. Incident reporting indicates efforts to de-escalate angry or aggressive patients prior to calling law enforcement support.

Qualifications

Job Qualifications (Knowledge/Skills/Abilities)

• Knowledge of patient health information (PIH) and HIPAA compliance.
• Ability to follow established Universal Precautions including the reporting of potential exposure to a communicable disease.
• Skilled in interpersonal communication to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external customers.
• Ability to maintain a level of courtesy and professional decorum, including while communicating, in adverse circumstances to  internal and external customers.
• Skilled in basic counseling including the ability to listen without judging, empathizing with the patient and being able to respond appropriately.
• Ability to observe, describe behavior and/or symptomatic changes in patients.
• Ability to work with outside agencies in managing patient care.
• Ability to be self-directed.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload in a sometimes-hectic environment with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to seek request supervisory support or guidance when needed.
• Ability to use computer applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and ace the internet.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including calculator, copy machine, fax and multi-line telephone. 

Competencies

No competencies required for this job.

Physical Demands

Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Must have ability to sit for longer periods at a computer. Employee must be able to travel between AHS locations. Possible potential exposure to communicable disease. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. AHS may make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary : $19 - $21