Behavioral Health Technician | Senior Unit

Sioux Center Health; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 27,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO from day 1

Employer retirement matching

Career development/mentorship

Job summary

Avera Behavioral Health Senior Unit in Sioux Falls, SD is seeking a Behavioral Health Technician to support nursing staff in a 20-bed unit focusing on elderly mental health care. This role includes interaction with patients and families, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, and delivery of high-quality patient care.

The position emphasizes strong communication, teamwork, and clinical support, with a focus on conditions like dementia, depression, and anxiety.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively with others and maintain confidentiality.
• Visual acuity adequate to perform position duties.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates effective communication skills to create a positive work environment.
• Participates in the daily inter-disciplinary treatment team meeting as needed, providing input on patient behaviors and interactions.
• Implements suicide precautions as needed.
• Assesses changes in patient’s condition/behavior and notifies RN and/or Counselor.
• Assists with activities of daily living care and general nursing duties such as vital signs and specimen collection.
• Maintains accurate records in the patient’s EMR and communicates promptly.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: Avera Behavioral Health Center-Sioux Falls

Worker Type: Regular

Work Shift: Primarily days with rotating weekends and holidays (United States of America)

Pay Range: $19.75 - $30.00

Position Highlights

This position may be eligible for a $3,000 Sign on Bonus

Why is Behavioral Health important?

The Avera Behavioral Health Senior Unit is a 20 bed unit that provides a welcoming, calming and healing environment to our patients as well as their families. The Senior unit’s environment is an active and challenging care environment that requires critical thinking and at the same time values autonomous professional nursing practice.

You will enjoy this Behavioral Health setting if you are someone that:

• This BHT position is a unique opportunity to get both medical and mental health experience as many of the patients have medical comorbidities requiring medical nursing care as well.
• Enjoys working with older adults with all different levels of functioning as well as their families.
• Has a passion helping patients with conditions such as Dementia, Depression, Catatonia, Anxiety Disorders, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.
• Possesses motivation to help create and deliver high‑quality patient care in an energizing team environment.
• Work with a dynamic and comprehensive team that includes: Physicians, Social Workers, Case Management, Patient Care Techs, expressive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical, occupation and speech therapy.

You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

A Brief Overview

Serves as a liaison for nurses, counselors, and patients in interdepartmental communications. Assists with the physical and psychological care of patients under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. Assumes responsibility and accountability for individual actions and outcomes of patient care delivered.

What you will do

• Demonstrates effective communication skills to create a positive work environment.
• Participates in the daily inter-disciplinary treatment team meeting as needed, providing input in terms of patient behaviors and interactions with others.
• Implements suicide precautions as needed.
• Assesses changes in patient’s condition/behavior and notifies RN and/or Counselor.
• Assists with the activities of daily living care of the patients to include, but not limited tovital signs, collection of specimens, and other general nursing care procedures.
• Maintains accurate and concise records, documenting promptly all pertinent information in the patient’s EMR.
• Assesses impending agitation and escalation of behavioral changes and participates in the behavioral management of these patients.
• Assists with admissions, transfers, and discharging of patients.
• Assists with medication monitoring and education at facility.
• Ensures that patient’s valuables and personal items are properly handled.

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience

• 1-3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience

• Bachelor's

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part‑time and full‑time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future.

• PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement
• Career development guided by hands‑on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to [e-mail].