Detox Technician

Pennington-County,-Sd; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennington County is seeking a Detox Technician I to provide direct care for individuals in detoxification and related treatment settings. The role emphasizes maintaining a therapeutically safe environment through close interactions with clients who may be intoxicated, withdrawing, or in mental health crisis, while managing high-stress situations.

Essential duties include supervising clients, ensuring program rules, handling admissions/discharges, and coordinating with medical staff.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Sufficient experience to understand basic principles, usually 1–2 years in similar roles.
• Possession or ability to obtain a valid South Dakota driver’s license within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision for all clients across services, monitor behavioral health symptoms and treatment plan compliance.
• Maintain professional boundaries and treat clients with respect and dignity.
• Complete admission and discharge processes for clients.
• Assist incapacitated clients with clothing changes, personal care, and hygiene as needed.
• Encourage program compliance and apply disciplinary measures when required.
• Complete detailed incident reports and participate in shift briefings and trainings.
• Respond to medical and mental health emergencies, perform close watches on suicidal clients.
• Administer breathalyzer tests and urine analyses; report results.
• Intervene in disruptive behavior using de-escalation skills; assist as part of a response team.
• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Education

High school diploma

Driver's License (SD)

Job description

The Detox Technician 1 performs all duties relevant to providing direct care for individuals receiving detoxification, alcohol/drug addiction treatment or mental health crisis care services, or those using Safe Solutions. Detox Technicians are responsible for maintaining a therapeutically safe and secure environment through close and courteous interactions with clients that may be intoxicated, withdrawing or in mental health crisis, in normal and potentially volatile circumstances. Detox Technicians are required to handle multiple tasks occasionally under high-stress conditions.

Essential Functions:

• Provide direct supervision for all clients participating in all services, to include monitoring for behavioral needs/changes, medical or mental health symptoms and/or compliance with work assignment and individual treatment plans.
• Maintain professional boundaries with clients while modeling appropriate behavior by treating all with respect and dignity.
• Complete admission and discharge process of clients.
• Help intoxicated clients with changing out of their clothes and into facility-issued clothing and assist with showering incapacitated clients who have vomited or soiled themselves.
• Encourage rules and program compliance through positive incentives and apply disciplinary consequences as needed.
• Complete detailed incident reports as required.
• Intervene in disruptive and dangerous client behavior, utilize verbal de-escalation skills and act as a member of response team able to physically restrain out-of-control clients.
• Respond to medical and mental health emergencies and perform close watch on suicidal clients
• Administer breathalyzer (PBT) and urine analysis (UA) tests and report and record test results.
• Attend and participate in shift briefings, staff meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.

This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive duties of the position. Incumbents may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties, as may be required.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work, in addition to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.
• Sufficient experience to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties of the position, usually associated with the completion of an apprenticeship/internship or having had a similar position for one to two years.
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid South Dakota Driver’s License within 90 days of moving to South Dakota.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry more than 50 pounds.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively on telephone, in-person and in writing.
• Must be able to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, stand, climb stairs and sit.
• Ability to periodically exert high levels of energy in the form of unarmed self-defense and lifting and/or moving more than 50 pounds.
• Must possess sufficient physical capability to overcome and restrain a combative or resistive individual.

Working Environment:

• Work is typically performed in a detoxification facility.
• Work requires the use of protective devices, such as masks, goggles, gloves, etc.