Behavioral Health Associate -days

Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital; Malden (MA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital is opening a part-time Behavioral Health Associate (BHA) position in Malden, MA. The role involves providing personal care to patients under clinical or nursing supervision, with a strong emphasis on patient safety, empathy and professional conduct.

The hospital is a collaboration between Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare, set to open in 2026 as a 144-bed facility offering inpatient and intensive outpatient programs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Six months or more experience with the population preferred.
• CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate urgency about patient safety and provide excellent customer services.
• Ensure the well-being of patients and provide a positive, supportive environment.
• Conduct safety checks and follow supervision guidelines at 15-minute intervals as required.
• Document timely and accurate clinical information in the medical record.
• Assist in providing a safe, secure and comfortable environment for patients, families and staff.
• Interact with patients, observe behaviors and relay observations to nursing staff.
• Assist with activities of daily living as needed.
• May obtain vital signs, height and weight and document in records.
• Facilitate patient educational groups covering social skills, coping, anger management and independent living skills.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Behavioral Health Associate (BHA) – Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital

This is a part time day shift position, 7-3:30pm, 3 weekdays plus every other weekend.

Our BHAs are responsible for providing personal care services to patients at the facility under the direction of clinical or nursing leadership. Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 250 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,100 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,000 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.

Acadia Healthcare’s purpose is to Lead Care With Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation.

Tufts Medicine, a leading integrated academic health system in Massachusetts, and Acadia Healthcare, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health services in the U.S., have partnered to create the Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital, a state-of-the-art, 144-bed facility in Malden, Massachusetts. Slated to open in February 2026, this hospital is designed to address the growing need for high-quality behavioral health services in the region.

The Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital will serve as a center of excellence, offering inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for patients of all ages. Additionally, it will function as a teaching hospital, providing a vital training site for future behavioral health professionals, including students and residents from the Tufts University School of Medicine. This initiative aims to address the regional shortage of behavioral health clinicians while ensuring a continuum of care for patients and their families.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer services.
• Ensure the well-being of patients and provide a positive, supportive and structured environment.
• Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15 minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines as needed.
• Document timely, accurate and appropriate clinical information in patient's medical record.
• Assist in providing a safe, secure and comfortable environment for patients, significant others and staff.
• Interact routinely with patients, observe behaviors and communicate significant observations to nursing staff.
• May oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration and changing bed linens.
• May obtain patient's vital signs, height and weight as assigned and document in patient record.
• Facilitate patient educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills, anger management and independent living skills.
• Engage patients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
• Complete and maintain required documentation. Assist with follow-up and paperwork as required on incidents and events that may take place in the facility.
• May provide transportation for patient or coordinate transportation with appropriate staff member.
• Demonstrate a positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers always. When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints. Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.

Other Functions

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

• CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.

Pay: $21.00-25.00/hr based on experience

TUFBH