Behavioral Health Technician Casual

LEWIS & CLARK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.; Yankton (SD); On-site; USD 27,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading company in behavioral health is seeking a Behavioral Health Technician to assist clinical staff in providing care for individuals experiencing mental health and addiction crises. This position requires engaging with patients in therapeutic activities to promote recovery and ensure safety within the treatment environment. Candidates must have at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent and a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement of a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Experience in a clinical setting is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assist clinical staff in caring for youth and adults experiencing mental health crises.
• Monitor patients for safety via routine safety checks.
• Document and report patient behaviors and critical incidents.

Skills

Communication

Observation

Conflict resolution

Therapeutic interaction

Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent

Job description

Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) is recruiting for a Behavioral Health Technician position. The position will be responsible to assist clinical staff in caring for youth and adults experiencing mental health and addiction crisis, as well as caring for adults participating in chemical dependency treatment. The role will be primarily positioned at The CORE Center, which provides 24/7 crisis care services for youth and adults, while also performing duties at the EBEL Recovery Center, which provides substance use treatment and detoxification services for adults.

Employment Status: Casual, minimum 24 hours per month
Shift Rotation Options: Day, Evening, Night
Weekend Rotation: Occasional
Holiday Rotation: 1-2 Holidays per year

Essential Functions:

• Perform screenings for youth and adults in crisis upon presentation to the facility, identifying potential risks and possible options for support/intervention, in collaboration with clinical staff. Perform breathalyzer checks and obtain vitals for patients, when indicated.

• Observe and document patient self-administration of medications, documenting errors and completing incident reports to improve medication administration process. Work with nursing staff and other techs on minimizing staff medication errors.

• Monitor patients for safety via routine safety checks, communicating information regarding patient’s behavior to other members of treatment team.

• Role model appropriate social interactions. Encourage and facilitate patient’s participation in therapeutic activities and program schedule, enforcing accountability to program rules. Offer feedback, assign consequences, and provide therapeutic interventions to motivate behavioral changes.

• Engage in 1:1 supportive activities with patients, such as therapeutic communication and structured recreation.

• Maintain therapeutic posture with patients experiencing emotional instability, exercising self-control in volatile situations such as verbal/physical threats and/or confrontation. Assist in conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Maintain patient confidentiality. Immediately report safety concerns related to patient care issues, maintenance concerns, property destruction, theft, or any other safety concern preventing or directly or indirectly impacting the effective provision of treatment services.

• Document and report objective and factual information about patient behaviors, unusual situations, and critical incidents as they occur, contacting designated and on-call staff when required.

• Participate in treatment planning with the interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Assist with training of new staff members as required.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the leadership team.

Required licensure: Minimum requirement high school diploma or GED equivalent; valid driver's license.