Behavioral Health Technician - OHL West Bank

Odyssey House Louisiana; Gretna (LA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability

401k match

Job summary

Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc. is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Technician to provide direct supervision of clients in treatment at our West Bank campus, ensuring safety and adherence to daily schedules.

The role supports clinical, medical and other staff and requires facilitating therapeutic activities, documenting observations, and assisting with crisis de-escalation. This entry-level position offers comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• CPI de-escalation training knowledge desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and flexible hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision of clients in treatment at the West Bank campus.
• Ensure a safe environment and monitor daily activities 24/7.
• Document client behavior and progress for the interdisciplinary team.
• Assist with therapeutic and recreational activities and crisis de-escalation.
• Support planning and organization of client activities on and off campus.
• Complete required incident reports and maintain accurate charts.

Skills

Communication skills

CPI de-escalation

Microsoft Office proficiency

Flexible hours

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s Degree in related field (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Behavioral Health Technician – West Bank

Join our mission to provide a comprehensive continuum of care for people in Louisiana, encompassing primary care, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment. Help save lives at OHL!

Job Summary

Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc. is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Technician. The Behavioral Health Technician provides direct supervision of clients in treatment and works directly with them to supervise all daily activities. Clients reside at the agency’s West Bank campus, so Behavioral Health Technicians provide direct client supervision 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All Behavioral Health Technicians report directly to the Program Manager of OHL West Bank treatment and work closely with clinical, medical and other staff to ensure clients receive comprehensive substance use disorder treatment services.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure a safe environment for clients
• Exercise therapeutic communication skills
• Take steps to de‑escalate distressed clients
• Observe and document client behavior
• Assist with therapeutic and recreational activities
• Monitor clients’ physical well‑being
• Provide input regarding client progress to the interdisciplinary team
• Oversee the activities of the facility when there are no licensed staff on duty
• Possess adequate orientation and skills to assess situations related to relapse and to provide access to appropriate medical care when needed
• Function as client advocate
• Monitor residents to ensure compliance with daily schedules and always ensure their safety
• Receive and pass verbal and written feedback to clinical, medical and other OHL staff as requested about client activity and behaviors
• Monitor visits from children and family members and provide documentation as requested by clinical staff and Program Manager
• Monitor and observe clients taking medications as requested by the Program Manager, complete all required documents in the client’s chart as instructed, and inform Program Manager of any problems or concerns
• Complete all Incident Reports prior to the end of scheduled shift as required by Incident Policy and Procedure
• Assist with the planning and organization of therapeutic client activities both on and off the main campus
• Conduct urine screens as requested and complete all required documentation
• Facilitate and supervise all client feedback meetings
• Facilitate and monitor client phone calls
• Facilitate and supervise any community or in‑house 12‑step meetings (must be present)
• Complete client bed checks every 30 minutes or as requested by Program Manager and complete required documentation via email during night runs
• Complete facility security rounds and ensure all doors and gates are locked and secured when appropriate
• Submit shift reports to Program Manager throughout shift via email as requested
• Contact Program Manager in the event of a fire or evacuation of the treatment facility as required
• Perform strip and property searches on all new clients as requested and perform strip searches on clients returning to the program from outside activities (NO CAVITY SEARCH)
• Assist with other program functions as requested by Program Manager including but not limited to transportation and monitoring of the front desk
• Assist with providing clients cigarettes as scheduled per shift requiring staff to be in a smoking area with approximately 24 people smoking at one time
• Collect, wash and dry all client clothing and linen assigned on laundry day
• Perform other duties as required

Required Qualifications and Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid Divers License
• 2 years of Behavioral Health Technician experience in Acute Psych and substance use disorder treatment
• CPI de‑escalation training knowledge
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and flexible hours
• Candidates in recovery must have at least 2 years of sobriety

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field (social work, psychology, education)
• 3+ years of Behavioral Health Technician experience in Acute Psych
• Knowledge of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholic Anonymous principles

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits package includes insurance (health, dental, vision, life, long‑term and short‑term disability), leave benefits and 401k match.