Behavioral Health Tech

Chesapeake Regional Healthcare • Chesapeake, VA

1d

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Technician works in collaboration with behavioral health nurses and other clinicians, providing care and support to individuals with developmental or psychiatric disorders, mental illness, substance abuse issues, and other behavioral health needs. The role assists with daily patient care, organizes activities, and monitors patients experiencing acute behavioral health crises. Work is performed within the scope of the technician’s education, training, and experience and according to organizational or unit needs.

The technician supports patients through therapeutic engagement, observation, documentation, safety measures, crisis intervention, and assistance with activities of daily living and clinical procedures. The position requires effective communication, compassion, attention to detail, de-escalation skills, and time management. Other tasks may be assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 1 year of previous experience as a care partner, Certified Nursing Assistant, or in a similar role.
• Current BLS certification, or obtain BLS certification within 90 days of hire.
• Effective communication, compassion, attention to detail, de-escalation techniques, and good time management.
• Ability to perform essential duties satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with a behavioral health patient population.

Responsibilities

• Develop therapeutic relationships with behavioral health patients.
• Participate in, observe, monitor, report, and document patient interactions in the milieu, activities, or group sessions.
• Support and help manage a therapeutic milieu, including structure, social support, patient education, safety, and social skills training.
• Serve as a physical patient sitter or monitor patients using camera/audio systems for safety and suicide precautions.
• Complete observations, interventions, and documentation accurately and on time.
• Use sound judgment and crisis intervention skills, including verbal de-escalation, to prevent or reverse potentially harmful situations.
• Support patient safety related to seclusion/restraint, elopement, and management of assaultive patients, within role scope, hospital policy, and training.
• Demonstrate basic understanding of psychotropic medications, including their actions and side effects, within role scope.
• Assist with patient education as appropriate to scope.
• Assist with clinical staff training programs related to behavioral health patient care.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living, including meals and feeding, bathing, oral care, range of motion, and ambulation.
• Respond promptly to patient or visitor call lights.
• Perform blood glucose monitoring, collect specimens and transport them to the lab as needed, escort patients during testing or transfer, obtain blood products from the Blood Bank per policy, and perform EKGs.
• Monitor and record vital signs and intake/output, and notify the nurse accurately of pertinent changes in a patient’s condition.
• Maintain and stock adequate supplies and equipment, follow established routines, and use supplies and equipment cost-effectively.
• Initiate emergency measures as appropriate to scope, such as Code Red, Patient Elopement, or Code Green procedures.
• Perform electronic medical record functions within scope and use downtime procedures as necessary.
• Relay urgent orders immediately to appropriate staff.
• Coordinate scheduling of diagnostic, therapeutic, and discharge services for patients.
• Answer unit phones and communicate effectively.
• Attend required unit-level and hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services.
• Demonstrate flexibility with work scheduling as necessary to ensure patient care.

What This Job Offers

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