Behavioral Health Technician

UNC Health Care; North Carolina; On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Part time

Job summary

UNC Health Johnston is seeking a Per Diem Nursing Assistant I to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients, under close supervision. You will participate in group therapies, support admissions and orientation, and assist with daily living activities and vital signs.

Responsibilities include documenting patient data, communicating changes to RNs or physicians, and reinforcing education materials.

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED. CPI certification within 60 days from hire. BLS certification required.
• Ability to establish rapport with patients and families.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication.
• One year of experience in a behavioral health setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Aids patients in orientation and participates in behavior modification plans.
• Interviews patients and families for admission data; orients to the facility.
• Interacts with patients individually and in groups to encourage participation.
• Monitors patient condition and reports changes to RN/physician.
• Provides direct personal care per plan of care, including ADLs and vital signs.
• Ensures patient safety through restraint where necessary and supportive supervision.
• Reinforces education and distributes materials to patients and families.

Skills

Empathy

Interpersonal skills

Calm under pressure

English fluency

Education

High school diploma or GED

CPI certification within 60 days

BLS certification

Job description

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary:
Under close supervision, responsible for providing a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for psychiatric patients. Provides direct patient care and may conduct therapeutic group sessions under the direction and supervision of the RN. Provides input to the RN to help develop the plan of care and assists in carrying out the plan of care for assigned patients. Assists with the admission of new patients and orients new patients and families to the unit.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

UNC Health Johnston offers a continuum of behavioral health services to support individuals in crisis. The Behavioral Health Holding area in the Emergency Department provides a safe space for immediate psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and stabilization. The Behavioral Health Triage process ensures patients receive immediate care through timely assessments, medical clearance, and coordination with inpatient psychiatric services. The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit delivers comprehensive treatment through therapy, education, and personalized care planning, helping patients stabilize, build coping skills, and prepare for safe discharge with ongoing support.

Responsibilities:

1. 1. Aids patients in reality orientation, participates in behavior modification plans/therapy, provides informal support therapy to patients/families, provides verbal de-escalation of potentially aggressive patients, aids in the physical management of aggressive/out-of-control patients, facilitates age appropriate play for children, and monitors the therapeutic milieu activities on assigned unit to ensure that emotional and safety needs of patients are met.
2. 2. Assists in interviewing patients and their families for routine admission data. Orients patients and families to the facility. Provides data input during team discussions and meetings to assist in developing therapeutic plans and objectives.
3. 3. Interacts with patients on a one to one as well as small group basis. Facilitates assigned groups in ways which encourage and require maximum patient participation and interaction, appropriate to functional level of group members.
4. 4. Observes, collects, and documents patient information obtained while providing care and promptly report significant changes in the patient's condition to a registered nurse or physician.
5. 5. Provides direct personal care to patients as outlined in plan of care for routine activities of daily living including bathing, personal hygiene, feeding and dressing. Assists patients with position changes, range of motion exercises, transfers and walking. Obtains and records vital signs, intake and output amounts or other measures as delegated. Observes patients and assesses progress on daily basis and reports significant changes in patients' condition and/or behavior to supervising RN.
6. 6. Provides protection and control for patients as required to ensure patient safety in the facility. Participates in restraining combative patients as necessary. Provides care and monitoring of patients in seclusion and/or restraint.
7. 7. Reinforce routine teaching given to patients by the registered nurse or physician and document patient understanding of instructions. Distributes patient education materials at the request of patients and/or health care providers

Other information:

• Education Requirements:
  * High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement.
• Licensure/Certification Requirements:
  * Listed as a Nursing Assistant I by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
  * Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification within 60 days from date of hire
  * Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
• Professional Experience Requirements:
  * Requires one (1) year of relavent experience in a behavioral health environment.
• Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
  * Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and hospital staff. Ability to work with, express sensitivity and understanding, and secure the cooperation of patients, including maintaining empathetic attitude towards patients. Ability to work with groups of patients or individuals in didactic or recreational groups. Ability to keep calm in stressful situations. Must be fluent in verbal and written English language. Capability to develop computer skills if not competent.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Johnston Health

Organization Unit: Behavioral Health IP

Work Type: Per Diem

Standard Hours Per Week: 4.00

Salary Range:$19.12 - $27.17 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Variable

Location of Job: US:NC:Smithfield

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.