Behavioral Health Specialist

Children's Hospital Colorado; Highlands Ranch (CO); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Incentives

PTO

Medical insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Parental leave

403b match

Wellness program

Education benefit

Bonus program

Pay raises

Job summary

Children's Hospital Colorado is seeking a Behavioral Health Specialist to provide direct patient care for children and adolescents with behavioral health needs.

You will work across emergency services, medical units, and behavioral health programs under licensed supervision, implementing treatment plans in a trauma-informed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or 4 years of direct professional experience or equivalent.
• Area of study includes Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Biology or Neuroscience.
• Validated BLS/CPR certification and de-escalation training within CHCO requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and ensure a safe, structured environment under supervision.
• Lead therapeutic milieu groups and monitor treatment progress.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and 15-minute checks.
• Respond to crisis prevention and de-escalation needs as trained.

Skills

Patient care

Crisis de-escalation

Milieu therapy

Documentation

Safety management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Biology, or Neuroscience

4 years direct experience or related education equivalency

BLS/CPR certification

De-escalation training certification (CHCO)

Tools

De-escalation training

Job description

Job Overview

The Behavioral Health Specialist is responsible for direct patient care, safety, supervision and management of children and adolescents with identified behavioral health needs within diverse environments such as emergency services, medical units, and behavioral health programs. Performs duties under the direction of a licensed professional and implements behavioral treatment plans. Works alongside clinical professionals to provide a safe, supportive, and trauma informed environment.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides direct patient care and management of children and adolescents while under the direction of a licensed professional, ensuring a positive, supportive, and structured environment. Intervenes and escalates safety concerns through appropriate channels.
• By position, may be required to assist new hires during onboarding process and less experienced team members ensuring competencies and skills are well developed and performed.
• Maintains therapeutic rapport, unconditional positive regard, and a non-punitive approach with patients independent of patient behaviors.
• Leads, monitors and collaborates on educational and therapeutic milieu groups for patients per unit expectations.
• Implements individual treatment plans and monitors treatment progress.
• Maintains accurate and timely clinical records consistent with CHCO and regulatory standards; ensures proper documentation of patient progress; completes 15-minute patient checks; and/or milieu management.
• Maintains competency in crisis prevention training and verbal de-escalation skills. May encounter escalated patient situations.
• Responds as part of the Behavioral Assistance Response Team by location, as applicable.
• Manages and maintains safety of therapeutic environment/milieu of multiple hospitalized inpatient/partial hospitalized psychiatric patients at one time, as required by position.
• Observes and records patient behaviors and activities in accordance with unit-based clinical model/standard.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degrees
  • Bachelor's
• Area of Study
  • Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Biology, or Neuroscience
• Equivalency
  • Four (4) years of direct professional experience or a combination of direct professional experience and college credits in a related field of study, may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree. (30 college credits = 1 year of experience).
• Licenses & Certifications
  • Basic Life Support:
  • Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR certification.
  • Must obtain de-escalation training certification offered by CHCO within 90 days of hire.

Schedule/Shift

• 36hrs FT
• Nights - Days vary Based On dept needs

Salary Information

Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience. Hourly Range: $22.21 to $33.31

Benefits Information

• Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.
• As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.
• Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

EEO Statement

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information. The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained. Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Estimated Close Date: 10/30/2026