Behavioral Health Tech

Corewell Health • St Joseph, MI

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Tech is a para-professional caregiver who assumes responsibility and accountability for a patient(s) during a designated time frame. He/She is an integral member of the behavioral health team, which generally includes psychiatry, psychology, nursing and social work. As part of an interdisciplinary team, the tech coordinates and implements patient care specific to the age of the population served, potentially including adults or children. This role ensures that compassionate, engaged care meets/exceeds quality standards and is provided in an efficient, safe manner consistent with Michigan Mental Health Code standards of care. The tech is responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of patients and the environment, interacting appropriately with patients and families individually and/or in group settings, and identifying environmental factors impacting the patient's treatment. They will also identify self-care, cultural, ethnic, spiritual and educational needs of the patient, family and/or significant others. Working with the interdisciplinary team, they will help develop, implement and revise the plan of care. The tech implements the physicians' treatment plan and the Individual Plan of Care, assists nursing with ADLs and vitals, observes and reports on patient progress, and documents appropriately. Essential functions include routinely collecting data, reporting and documenting observations of patient behavior and response to interventions, and reassessing patient’s behavior and status. The tech understands basic medication effects/side effects and reports observations to the Charge Nurse. They demonstrate understanding of psycho-dynamics and reasons underlying patient behavior by effectively utilizing this knowledge in patient care intervention. The role requires organizing and preparing for daily group presentations, assuring all necessary materials and tools are ready. The tech collaborates in day-to-day planning/development and implementation of patient programs, such as teaching daily living skills and basic concepts of mental illness. They recognize when unsafe or non-therapeutic milieu conditions are developing and seek consultation when implementing proper interventions. The tech assists in crisis control interventions, de-escalation, and staffing of close observation areas as directed. Thorough documentation of patient care, including interventions and their effectiveness, is required, utilizing technology. They utilize and complete appropriate additional forms necessary in patient care delivery (e.g., consents, AMA/ITT events, variance reports, confidentiality statements, voluntary/involuntary paperwork). The tech delegates appropriately, gives direction, and responds to direction during shifts, proactively participating in problem mitigation and solving. They assist in staff development activities like teaching and precepting, and identify and participate in departmental and hospital quality improvement processes. The role also involves ordering supplies, checking equipment, and ensuring patient rooms are clean and stocked. Flexibility in the work schedule and assisting in covering open shifts is expected. Annual and mandatory tasks, including TB Clinic, Annual Mandatory Education, nursing license renewal, CPR, ACLS, CPI, and other unit-specific mandates, must be completed within defined time periods. Time cards are reviewed frequently, and discrepancies addressed before the pay period ends. Department communications are verified as read, and ongoing skills are maintained through training and educational opportunities.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Psychiatric unit experience
• CRT-Basic Life Support (BLS) - AHA American Heart Association (required within 90 Days)

Responsibilities

• Assume responsibility and accountability for a patient(s) during a designated time frame.
• Coordinate and implement patient care specific to the age of the population served.
• Ensure that compassionate, engaged care meets/exceeds quality standards.
• Provide care in an efficient safe manner consistent with Michigan Mental Health Code standards of care.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients.
• Ensure safety of the environment.
• Interact appropriately with patients and families individually and/or in group settings.
• Identify environmental factors impacting the patient's treatment.
• Identify self-care, cultural, ethnic, spiritual and educational needs of the patient, family and/or significant others.
• Help develop, implement and revise the plan of care with the interdisciplinary team.
• Implement the physicians' treatment plan and the Individual Plan of Care.
• Assist nursing with ADLs and vitals.
• Observe and report on patient progress and document appropriately.
• Routinely collect data, report and document observations of patient behavior and response to interventions and reassess patient’s behavior and status.
• Understand basic medication effects/side effects and report observations to the Charge Nurse.
• Demonstrate understanding of psycho-dynamics and reasons underlying patient behavior by effectively utilizing this knowledge in patient care intervention.
• Organize and prepare for daily group presentations, assuring that all materials and tools necessary are ready/available prior to scheduled group times.
• Collaborate in day-to-day planning/development of patient programming and implementation of patient programs, such as teaching daily living skills and basic concepts of mental illness.
• Recognize when unsafe or non-therapeutic milieu conditions are developing and seek consultation when implementing proper interventions.
• Assist in crisis control interventions, de-escalation and staffing of close observation areas as directed.
• Complete thorough documentation of patient care, including patient interventions and their effectiveness.
• Utilize technology in the documentation of treatment and programming provided.
• Utilize and complete appropriate additional forms necessary in the delivery of patient care (e.g. consents, AMA/ITT events, variance reports, confidentiality statements, voluntary/involuntary paperwork, etc.).
• Delegate appropriately, give direction and respond to direction in the course of work shifts.
• Proactively participate in problem mitigation and problem solving during work shifts.
• Assist in staff development activities such as teaching and precepting of staff and students.
• Identify and participate in departmental and hospital quality improvement processes.
• Order supplies, check equipment and ensure patient rooms are clean and stocked in preparation for patient care.
• Demonstrate flexibility in the work schedule and assist in covering open shifts.
• Complete annual and mandatory tasks within the defined time period (TB Clinic, Annual Mandatory Education, nursing license renewal, CPR, ACLS, CPI and other nursing unit specific mandates).
• Review time card frequently and address discrepancies before the end of the pay period.
• Verify department communications (departmental updates and staff meeting minutes) as read.
• Assure ongoing skills through training and educational opportunities provided at staff meetings and in-services.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package to meet your financial, health, and work/life balance goals.
• On-demand pay program powered by Payactiv.
• Discounts directory with deals on the things that matter to you, like restaurants, phone plans, spas, and more!
• Optional identity theft protection, home and auto insurance, pet insurance.
• Traditional and Roth retirement options with service contribution and match savings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED