Behavioral Health Associate (PRN)

Safe Harbor Recovery Center; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia is seeking a Behavioral Health Associate I (PRN) to contribute to a multidisciplinary treatment team. You will monitor client behaviors, support continuous client care, and respond to crises as needed.

The role emphasizes safety checks, de-escalation techniques, and accurate charting, with opportunities to lead educational-rehabilitative groups and support activities for treatment goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Six months or more experience with the facility’s population preferred.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and treatment modalities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure client safety and provide a supportive environment.
• Conduct safety checks and supervise clients per guidelines.
• Record vital signs and report significant changes to nursing staff.
• Document client records accurately and timely.
• Engage clients in therapeutic activities and groups.
• Assist with transportation and discharge planning as needed.

Skills

CPR certification

De-escalation training

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Behavioral Health Associate (PRN) | Safe Harbor Recovery Center | Portsmouth, Virginia

About the Job:

PURPOSE STATEMENT: The Behavioral Health Associate I serves as an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of client behaviors; providing continuous client care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling; assisting in client data collection, recording, and maintenance; and responding in crisis situations and medical emergencies as needed.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Ensures the wellbeing of clients and provides a safe, positive, supportive, and structured environment. Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of clients.
• Conducts safety checks, ensuring that supervision is conducted at intervals in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines.
• Checks clients for contraband and manages the client’s valuables and belongings.
• Interacts routinely with clients, observes behaviors and communicates significant observations to supervisor. Encourages attendance at group therapy and promotes client participation in unit activities.
• Engages with clients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
• Facilitates client educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills and independent living skills.
• Takes and records vital signs properly and communicates significant changes in client’s condition to the charge nurse.
• Charts in client records timely, accurately, and appropriately.
• Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage client’s emotions, behavior and participation in treatment.
• Assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, discharge process, filing, etc. Initiates client/employee incident reports.
• Provides transfer or transportation for client or coordinates transportation with appropriate staff member, as required.
• Receives report from previous shift to utilize information in planning for shift and then provides an accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift.
• Serves as a resource for new clients introducing them to other clients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation. Orients clients to the activities program, explaining the benefits of activities.
• Maintains an awareness of client’s needs and individual goals while motivating clients towards activities which are beneficial to them. Observes clients’ interest levels and behaviors.
• Assists with activity planning by offering new activity ideas and diverse therapeutic recreation program.
• Organizes and sets up the equipment that is used in recreational activities. Provides clients with activity resources and supplies, as needed.
• Enforces safety rules to prevent injury and modifies activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
• Helps to develop and maintain departmental resources, sharing the responsibility to monitor equipment and supplies.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
• Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities of the population served preferred.

Licenses/Designations/Certifications:

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

Work Location:

This position is onsite at the facility and is not a remote position.

Supervisory Requirements:

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Safe Harbor Recovery Center?

Safe Harbor Recovery Center offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Safe Harbor Recovery Center is an EOE.

Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.