Behavioral Health Technician I - FT and PT

Centers for Independence; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Centers for Independence is seeking a dedicated caregiver to provide direct psychiatric care for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in a group home setting.

The role includes assisting residents with independent living skills, medication administration under supervision, documentation, and coordinating transportation to activities, with a focus on safety and DHS 83 compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum required education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 1 year experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Ability to read labels, follow DHS 83 regulations, and perform tasks safely.

Responsibilities

• Assist residents in learning independent living skills per ISP.
• Administer medications under supervision of Residential RN.
• Document daily behavior and routines in the resident log.
• Coordinate transportation to day programs, jobs, or school.
• Plan and serve nutritious meals and supervise food handling.
• Train new and existing staff and ensure DHS 83 compliance.
• Respond to changes in resident condition and report to supervisors.

Skills

Min supervision

Professional conduct

Communication skills

Reliability

Reading/writing

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Job Details: Education Level: High School Diploma, HSED or GED, Travel Percentage: None, Job Shift: 3rd Shift, Job Category: Health Care,

Job Purpose:

This is a technical position that involves the direct psychiatric care of adults with severe and persistent mental illness. This position helps provide a homelike environment, which enables residents to learn and develop coping and daily living skills as well as socialization and leisure skills.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assists consumers in learning independent living skills, which are defined in the resident's Individual Service Plan. (i.e., laundry, housekeeping, cooking, time, and money management.). As well as encouraging management of symptoms through support services and education.
• Administers consumer medication in adherence with DHS 83 regulations and under the supervision of the Residential RN.
• Documents residents' daily behavior and routine in the resident daily log consistent with their Individualized Service Plan goals.
• Reports to Residential Supervisor, Residential RN, or physician any changes in client condition, behavior, and functioning.
• Complete shift duties as assigned including required shift duty documentation. Ensures that the house is always clean and complies with DHS 83 regulations.
• Train new and existing employees to the facility and residents.
• Ensures that residents maintain acceptable standards of personal hygiene.
• Ensures that residents leave for their day program, job, or school appropriately groomed. Coordinate transportation as necessary.
• Ensures that nutritious community meals are planned, prepared, and served, including training residents in food preparation, serving, and storage. Participates in storing weekly grocery delivery in adherence with DHS 83 regulations.
• Ensures that all physical repairs are reported to the Property Management Department.
• Practices emergency evacuation procedures and performs fire alarm system checks with residents and documents these drills.
• Attends required initial and annual CBRF trainings and can successfully pass competency testing.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings, in-service training seminars and conferences as required.
• Reports for work on time and adheres to CFI Attendance Policy.
• Reports for work at group homes that are not their home location, if properly trained, for emergency staffing needs.
• Understands and adheres to established policies and procedures and DHS 83 rules.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English, both orally and in writing is required. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in Spanish, both orally and in writing is desirable.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure and Credentials: (Where appropriate, education and/or experience may be substituted)

Minimum Required Education: High School Diploma/GED preferred.

Minimum Required Experience: Minimum of 1 year experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.

Required License - Certification - Registration: N/A

Travel Type: None

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must be able to function with minimum supervision.
• Professional workplace appearance and conduct; friendliness and courtesy to consumers, coworkers and vendors.
• Effectively communicates and develops good working relationships with co-workers.
• Reliability in reporting to work regularly and on time.
• Must be able to communicate complex thoughts and instructions both in writing and verbally.
• Must possess good communication, listening, writing and organizational skills.
• Must complete CBRF training program as outlined by DHS 83.
• Must be able to use appliances such as stove, microwave, washer/dryer, etc.
• Must be able to read the label on medicine bottles and understand the directions on the labels.
• Must be able to clean up bloody/body fluid spills in accordance with OSHA and agency policies.
• Must be able to evacuate residents in two minutes or less and assist residents in evacuation as dictated by DHS 83.

Physical Requirements, Visual Acuity, and Work Conditions:

Physical Requirements: On occasion must be able to push/pull/lift/move objects weighing at least 50 pounds. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Ability to perform well in a fast-paced work environment.

Visual Acuity: The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal.

Working Conditions: Work is performed largely in a group home setting. Group homes are open 24 hours per day 7 days a week. This position may work in a variety of indoor and outdoor work environments which may include various outdoor weather conditions, loud noises, fluctuating temperatures, and the occasional use of stairs. Hours of work will vary and will be set in conjunction with the designated supervisor. Management has a right to move staff to a group home that is not their home location, if they are properly trained, for emergency staffing needs.