BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN (BHT)

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Behavioral Health Technician
Department: Client Services 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
 
SUMMARY
  The Behavioral Heath Technician (BHT) provides direct support to clients in a residential or outpatient facility. This role involves monitoring client behavior, supporting treatment plans, ensuring safety, and facilitating therapeutic activities. The BHT will work closely with clinical staff to support clients experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, providing both emotional and behavioral support.
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitor and document client behavior, emotional state, and participation in treatment. 
• Provide one-on-one and group support to clients experiencing psychiatric or substance abuse issues. 
• Maintain facility rules, respond to incidents calmly and professionally to ensure a safe and structured environment. 
• Accompany clients to therapy sessions, medical appointments, and other off-site activities. 
• Assist clients with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, meals, and medication compliance.
• Respond to crisis situations, including suicidal ideation, aggression, and withdrawal symptoms, using de-escalation techniques.
• Implement individual treatment plans under the direction of clinical staff. 
• Facilitate and co-lead psychoeducational groups on topics such as relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and coping skills. 
• Provide emotional support and guidance to clients experiencing mental health crises or substance withdrawal symptoms. 
• Collaborate with therapists, nurses, and counselors to ensure comprehensive care and treatment consistently. 
• Monitor and support clients in detoxification, withdrawal management, and psychiatric stabilization processes. 
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of client progress, behavioral changes, and incident reports. 
• Monitor and maintain proper documentation of medication administration and any adverse reactions. 
• Report changes in client behavior, mood, or physical condition to clinical staff immediately. 
• Complete shift reports and update in Sunwave as required. 
• Conduct regular safety checks and room searches to prevent unsafe behaviors. 
• Build rapport and establish trust with clients through active listening and non-judgmental support. 

REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field preferred. 
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working in a psychiatric facility or substance abuse treatment setting required.
• Experience working with clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred. 
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and addiction recovery principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities
• Valid certifications will be a plus.(Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), CPR and First Aid.

Additional responsibilities may be warranted and assigned to you as the company grows in size and locations. You understand that due to the nature of the business of Infinite Recovery, sometimes “off the usual schedule work” is required to meet the needs of the company and its clients.
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
 This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES
 To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
Communication - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles; upholds organizational values.
Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
 
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.
 
LANGUAGE SKILLS
 Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers. Ability to communicate effectively through email. Ability to effectively present information to management.
 
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
 Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
 
REASONING ABILITY
 Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
 
COMPUTER SKILLS
 To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) as well as web-based email.
 
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. 
 While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
 The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.