Therapeutic Program Worker - Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health seeks staff to support adults in a residential setting, helping them develop essential living and social skills in areas such as hygiene, budgeting, and meal preparation. You will participate in creating individualized service plans and maintain daily records to ensure a structured environment.

The role requires direct interaction with clients, crisis de-escalation, teamwork, and adherence to safety and policy guidelines.

Qualifications

• Formal education in arithmetic that includes addition & subtraction and in reading, writing & speaking common English vocabulary.

Responsibilities

• Support adults in a residential setting to develop independent living and social skills.
• Implement personal and behavior plans, assist with hygiene, medication management, cooking and budgeting.
• Maintain a safe, de-escalate crises, transport consumers to appointments as needed, and document progress.

Skills

Direct Support/Direct Care

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

All job postings will expire at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application deadline.

All job postings will expire at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application deadline.

Organization: Behavioral Health - Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Agency Contact Name and Information: Alaina Bare - [e-mail]

Work Location

100 Hospital Drive

Athens, Ohio, 45701

United States

Compensation: 23.28

Schedule: Permanent - Full Time

Work Hours: Varies

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: OCSEA

Primary Job Skill: Direct Support/Direct Care

Who We Are

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

What You'll Do

This position focuses on supporting adults in a residential setting to develop essential independent living and social skills. The staff member will work directly with assigned consumers, implementing personal and behavior plans and helping with skills such as hygiene, medication management, food preparation, budgeting, and social interactions. The role involves maintaining a safe and supportive environment, de-escalating crises, modeling professional behavior, and transporting consumers to appointments as necessary. Staff will work closely with team members to develop individualized service plans, document progress, and maintain the facility’s cleanliness, contributing to a structured and supportive community.

Additional duties include:

• Collaborates with consumers and professionals to create and implement Individualized Service Plans and Behavior Plans, tailored to each consumer’s needs.
• Monitors and assesses consumer progress, recommending revisions to service plans and behavior plans as needed.
• Participates in program development and direction, adheres to guidelines set by the Program Director, and contribute to the residential support team’s service plan.
• Attends agency, program staff, and consumer meetings, as well as relevant committees, to facilitate program objectives and share insights on consumer needs.
• Completes accurate records, logs, and documentation related to consumer observations, behavioral changes, progress, and service interactions in a timely manner.
• Helps maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the residential facility on a daily basis.
• Attends required training sessions to improve skills and knowledge relevant to the role and follow agency policies on computer and software usage.
• Upholds a professional, friendly demeanor when interacting with visitors and the community to enhance public relations and customer satisfaction.
• Adheres to established safety practices, procedures, and agency policies to ensure a safe environment for consumers and staff.

Additional Information

This is an hourly position covered by the OCSEA/AFSCME bargaining unit (union), with a pay range of 7 on the OCSEA Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are 1st shift (6:30am to 3:00pm), 2nd shift (2:30pm to 11:00pm), and 3rd shift (10:45pm to 6:45am) and may work weekends and holidays as needed. This position is located within Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare at 100 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701.

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Established Term Appointments (ETA) are scheduled to meet the needs of the hospital with no guarantee of hours, shifts or assignment location. An Established Term Appointment (ETA) will have a length of appointment not to exceed ten (10) months consecutively.

Background Check Notice

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment & or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at [e-mail] or 614-466-8884.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this classification will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

Why Work For The State Of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*.

For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems ( such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS ) & Optional Deferred Compensation ( Ohio Deferred Compensation )
• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

Formal education in arithmetic that includes addition & subtraction & in reading, writing & speaking common English vocabulary. Must also possess a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code 5123:2-3-01(F) (1) (c).

For positions that require operation of motor vehicle to transport consumers to recreational, educational &/or occupational activities, a valid driver's license is required.

• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills

Direct Support/Direct Care

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.