BHA - Adult PHP

summitbhc; United States; On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Peak Behavioral Health in Las Cruces, NM is seeking a Behavioral Health Associate I to work under licensed nurse supervision within a multidisciplinary team. The role focuses on monitoring patient behaviors, delivering continuous care, and staff communication in a structured environment.

The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and preferred candidates have 6+ months of relevant experience and knowledge of psychiatric disorders.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Six months or more experience working with the facility's population preferred.
• Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, structured environment under supervision.
• Assist patients with daily living activities and group participation.
• Monitor patient behavior and communicate observations to the treatment team.
• Record vitals and document in patient records.
• Use de‑escalation techniques and assist with restraints if needed.
• Support activities planning and recreational therapy sessions.
• Provide transportation or coordinate as needed.
• Give thorough shift reports and ensure smooth handoffs.
• Act as a resource for new patients and orient them to activities.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

BHA - Adult PHP | Peak Behavioral Health | Las Cruces, New Mexico About the Job:

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Behavioral Health Associate I works under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse as an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of patient behaviors; providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling; assisting in patient data collection, recording, and maintenance; and responding in crisis situations and medical emergencies as needed.

Roles and Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures the wellbeing of patients and provides a safe, positive, supportive, and structured environment, under direction of charge nurse or supervisor. Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of patients.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living such as meals, snacks and hydration and attending groups while maintaining boundaries with staff and peers.
• Ensures that supervision is conducted at intervals in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines.
• Checks patients for contraband and manages the patient's valuables and belongings.
• Interacts routinely with patients, observes behaviors and communicates significant observations to treatment team.
• Facilitates patient educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills and independent living skills.
• Takes and records vital signs properly and communicates significant changes in patient’s condition to the clinical team.
• Charts in patient records timely, accurately, and appropriately.
• Applies de‑escalation techniques to help manage patient’s emotions, behavior and participation in treatment and assists with seclusion and restraints when necessary.
• Assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, discharge process, filing, etc. Initiates patient/employee incident reports.
• Provides transfer or transportation for patients or coordinates transportation with appropriate staff members as required.
• Receives report from previous shift to utilize information in planning shifts; give accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift.
• Promotes interest in recreational activities. Encourages attendance at group therapy and promotes patient participation in unit activities.
• Engages with patient in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
• Serves as a resource for new patients introducing them to other patients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation. Orients patients to the activities program, explaining the benefits of activities.
• Maintains an awareness of patient’s needs and individual goals while motivating patients towards activities which are beneficial to them. Observes patient’s interest levels and behaviors.
• Assists with activity planning by offering new activity ideas and diverse therapeutic recreation program.
• Organizes and sets up the equipment that is used in recreational activities. Provides patients with activity resources and supplies, as needed.
• Enforces safety rules to prevent injury and modifies activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
• Helps to develop and maintain departmental resources, sharing the responsibility to monitor equipment and supplies.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• High school graduate or equivalent required.
• Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
• Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities of the population served preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS

• CPR and de‑escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

WORK LOCATION

This position is onsite and is not a remote position.

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS

This position is an Individual Contributor.

Why Peak Behavioral Health?

Peak Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Peak

Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country.

We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.