Behavioral Health Technician

University Hospitals•Concord Township, OH

12d

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) provides direct care and support to adults receiving inpatient psychiatric care at University Hospital Continuing Care Campus, a 20-bed facility specializing in comprehensive and compassionate behavioral health services. Working under licensed professionals (RNs), the BHT monitors patient behavior, records vital signs, facilitates and leads activities, and assists with daily care. The BHT supports a therapeutic milieu by leading appropriate group activities, providing one-to-one sessions when a patient's mental state prevents group participation, and helping maintain a safe and clean environment. The role includes using appropriate de-escalation techniques to help prevent escalation and maintain a supportive environment. Clinical support includes taking vital signs, assisting with intake and discharge, and documenting patient findings and group or one-to-one sessions in the electronic health record. The BHT also performs routine safety checks, observes patients' daily actions, and records mood or behavioral changes. The position requires compliance with applicable policies and standards and safe, secure handling of patients' Protected Health Information (PHI), including compliance with annual training, the UH Code of Conduct, and UH policies and procedures. Other duties may be assigned; the department provides further duty documentation during orientation.

Requirements

High school equivalent or GED required.
Behavioral Health Technician Certification required upon hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) required within 30 days.
High Risk HARP required within 30 days.
Effective communication with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to organize changing work assignments.
Flexibility and a patient-focused approach.
Positive, self-motivated, can-do attitude and willingness to learn.
Basic computer data-entry skills.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal.
Physical ability to perform the listed job demands, including frequently lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in applied science in Psychology preferred, or a bachelor's degree in Psychology or current enrollment in an accredited program preferred.
At least 1 year of inpatient or outpatient psychiatry experience preferred.
Preferred proficiency in knowledge of mental health diagnoses and symptoms, including Bipolar 1 and 2, and in supporting behaviors related to schizophrenia or substance-induced psychosis.
Preferred proficiency in communicating with patients with developmental disabilities and managing their behaviors in a milieu.
Basic patient care skills at preferred proficiency level.

Responsibilities

Facilitate group activities appropriate for the patient population.
Provide one-to-one sessions when patients cannot participate in group sessions because of their current mental state.
Support therapeutic behaviors and milieu by understanding patient diagnoses and associated symptoms.
Help maintain a safe, clean environment.
Recognize stages of crisis and use appropriate de-escalation techniques, including active listening and a non-threatening demeanor, to help prevent escalation.
Take patient vital signs.
Assist with patient intake and discharge.
Document patient findings in the electronic health record.
Document group and one-to-one sessions in the electronic health record.
Perform routine safety checks, observe patients' daily actions, and document changes in mood or behavior.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with policies and standards.
Safely and securely maintain patients' Protected Health Information (PHI) and comply with related training, the UH Code of Conduct, and policies and procedures.