Behavioral Health Technician

The Emily Program; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (HSA and PPO)

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) matching

PTO + 7 holidays + floating holiday

Job summary

The Emily Program in Durham, North Carolina seeks an entry-level Behavioral Health Technician to support individuals undergoing treatment for eating disorders. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment, and assist with daily living activities, mealtime support, and documentation.

The role emphasizes compassionate care, adherence to safety protocols, and collaborating with clinicians to support clients on their recovery journey.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associates degree with at least 2 years of healthcare experience preferred (paraprofessional, MH technician, etc).
• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, or related field; certification/licensure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and support to individuals undergoing treatment.
• Assist with daily activities and mealtimes/snacks in a therapeutic environment.
• Collaborate with therapists, dietitians, nurses and psychiatrists for comprehensive care.
• Document observations and client progress per policy and regulatory requirements.
• Support safety, de-escalation, and crisis response as needed.
• Transport clients to medical appointments when required.

Skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Communication

Boundary setting

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

Associates degree with healthcare exp

Bachelor's degree in psychology/related

Job description

Our vision is a world of peaceful relationships with food, weight, and body image, where everyone with an eating disorder can experience recovery. We believe that exceptional, individualized care leads to lasting recovery from eating disorders. That’s why our teams are comprised of compassionate, dedicated professionals from a variety of backgrounds who collaborate to provide the very best evidence‑based care for our clients at all levels of care.

Position Overview

Our Behavioral Health Technician l will provide direct care and support to individuals undergoing treatment for eating disorders, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment.

This entry‑level position is ideal for individuals passionate about mental health and committed to helping clients on their recovery journey.

• Available Shifts:
  • Mid‑Shifts: 3:00pm - 11:00pm
• Schedule includes weekends and some holidays

Compensation

Final Compensation offered will be within pay range based on qualifications/experience met for the position

How Behavioral Health Technicians Empower Recovery:

• Ensure the strictest adherence to professional boundaries with clients, consistently upholding ethical standards and creating a safe, respectful environment for all interactions.
• Provide compassionate and supportive care to clients, including assisting with daily activities, monitoring mealtimes/snacks, and helping to create a structured and therapeutic environment in alignment with Accanto’s best practices.
• Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, including therapists, dietitians, nurses, and psychiatrists, to provide comprehensive care to clients which furthers their recovery.
• Monitor client behavior and physical health, accurately documenting observations and reporting any concerns or changes in condition to the appropriate internal resource.
• Ensure the safety and well‑being of clients by adhering to all safety protocols, responding to crises as needed, and employing de‑escalation techniques with clients.
• Provide support with client activities of daily living and self‑care, such as dressing and personal hygiene.
• Encourage positive behaviors and discourage negative ones to help clients improve their skills.
• Interact with clients providing recreational or social activities and reinforce therapeutic modalities.
• Complete clinical documentation in compliance with company policies and regulatory standards.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of patient interactions, progress notes, and any incidents, in accordance with facility policies and regulatory requirements.
• Facilitate therapeutic activity groups which may include art activities, music, journaling, mindfulness, relaxation, games etc.) to support client engagement and recovery.
• Participate in scheduled supervision and seek supervision when needed.
• Provide clients with transportation as needed for medical appointments.
• Consume therapeutic meals (snacks, etc.) with clients and/or families to model normalized eating behavior, while on shift. As this is a therapeutic intervention, meals must include the basic plating requirements of the patient meal and utilize the items provided on the hot and cold bars, or a fully plated meal in kitchen/restaurant (as appropriate).
• Always maintains the confidentiality of former and current clients’ protected health information, as directed by state and federal law, and company policy. Additionally, maintain confidentiality in any position with access to employee personal information.
• Always maintains the confidentiality of proprietary information, which includes but is not limited to, trade secrets, sensitive company information, and any company information not made available to the public.
• Adhere to all facility policies and procedures, including those related to patient confidentiality, ethical standards, and professional boundaries.
• Complete all assigned mandatory training.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree with at least 2 years of healthcare experience in a similar position/ related field preferred. (i.e. Paraprofessional, Mental Health Technician, Behavior Specialist, Recovery Coach).
• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, or a related field; a relevant certification or licensure preferred.

Professional Qualifications

• This is an entry‑level position; however, 6+ months of direct client care / milieu experience in a mental/behavioral health or healthcare setting, particularly with eating disorders is preferred.

Other Qualifications

• Employees at Residential or Inpatient sites must have a valid driver’s license and be authorized to drive.
• Employees at Residential or Inpatient sites are required to have a current Basic Life Support certification within 30 days of hire.
• Employees at Residential or Inpatient sites are required to have a current First Aid certification within 30 days of hire.
• Employees at Residential or Inpatient sites in North Carolina or Georgia are required to have a current CPI certification within 30 days of hire.

What we offer:

Employee Benefits:

We understand the importance of a well‑rounded benefits package. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing a range of plans to meet your needs.

For full‑time employees, we offer:

• HSA and PPO insurance with HSA or FSA options (Blue Cross Blue Shield)
• Vision insurance (EyeMed)
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• Company‑paid life insurance
• Company 401(k) matching for up to 50% of your contribution, up to 6% of your compensation

Paid time off is a crucial part of maintaining work and life balance. Our generous PTO plan accrues annually and begins with your first whole pay period. Eligible employees enjoy seven paid holidays and one floating holiday in addition to their regular PTO.

Voluntary Self‑Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in The Emily Program’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.