Behavioral Health Associate

Acadia Healthcare•Columbia, MO

20h

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Associate provides compassionate, direct care to patients in a behavioral health setting and helps maintain a safe, structured, and supportive environment. The role includes observing patient behavior, supporting daily living activities, conducting safety checks, documenting clinical information, and facilitating therapeutic and educational-rehabilitative activities that support treatment goals. The position requires a dependable, patient-focused team member with a professional and empathetic approach. Evening and overnight shifts are available.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
CPR, de-escalation, and restraint certification; training is available upon hire and offered by the facility.

Nice To Haves

Six months or more of experience working with the specific population served by the facility.
Behavioral health or direct care experience.
First aid may be required depending on state or facility requirements.

Responsibilities

Prioritize patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Help ensure patients’ well-being and maintain a positive, supportive, and structured environment.
Conduct safety checks at 15-minute intervals, according to special precautions or individualized supervision guidelines.
Document timely, accurate, and appropriate clinical information in patient medical records.
Help provide a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for patients, significant others, and staff.
Interact routinely with patients, observe their behavior, and communicate significant observations to nursing staff.
Oversee or assist patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration, and changing bed linens.
Obtain and document patients’ vital signs, height, and weight when assigned.
Facilitate educational-rehabilitative groups on topics such as social skills, coping skills, anger management, and independent living skills.
Engage patients in activities and interactions that encourage achievement of treatment goals.
Complete and maintain required documentation.
Assist with follow-up and paperwork related to incidents and events at the facility.
Provide patient transportation or coordinate transportation with the appropriate staff member.
Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers and acknowledge and work to resolve unmet patient needs or complaints.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.