Behavioral Health Technician

UHS•Mountain City, TN

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) provides direct care, supervision, and emotional support to children and adolescents ages 5–17 receiving behavioral health treatment at Mountain Youth Academy, a 120-bed residential treatment facility in Mountain City, Tennessee. The role helps maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment that supports emotional regulation, positive behavior, personal growth, and recovery. The BHT collaborates with nurses, therapists, and other treatment-team members to support patients’ individualized treatment plans and therapeutic goals. The position requires monitoring patients and responding to behavioral and safety concerns, supporting therapeutic activities, documenting observations and interventions, and following facility policies and safety procedures. Work takes place in a fast-paced behavioral health environment and may require assigned evening, night, weekend, or holiday shifts. Employees must complete facility orientation, safety training, crisis prevention and intervention training, background checks, and applicable pre-employment screenings.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Ability to recognize behavioral changes and respond appropriately to safety concerns.
Ability to establish appropriate boundaries and maintain professional relationships.
Strong observation, documentation, and teamwork skills.
Ability to follow instructions, treatment plans, and established safety procedures.
Ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Commitment to maintaining patient safety, confidentiality, and dignity.
Ability to work in a fast-paced behavioral health environment and remain alert and attentive throughout assigned shifts.
Ability to stand, walk, and participate in activities with patients for extended periods.
Ability to respond promptly to behavioral emergencies and patient safety concerns.
Ability to perform essential job functions, including approved crisis intervention procedures, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Willingness to work assigned shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, as required.
Successful completion of required background checks and applicable pre-employment screenings.
Successful completion of required facility orientation, safety training, and crisis prevention and intervention training.

Nice To Haves

Additional education or coursework in psychology, social work, behavioral health, human services, or a related field.
Previous experience working with children or adolescents.
Experience in behavioral health, psychiatric care, residential treatment, education, childcare, or a related setting.
Experience supporting individuals with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care, supervision, and emotional support to children and adolescents in a behavioral health treatment setting.
Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for patients.
Monitor patient behaviors, moods, interactions, and changes in emotional or physical condition.
Assist patients with emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving techniques.
Assist with and participate in therapeutic, recreational, educational, and structured group activities.
Establish appropriate professional boundaries while building positive, supportive relationships with patients.
Use trauma-informed care and developmentally appropriate approaches when interacting with children and adolescents.
Recognize and respond appropriately to escalating behaviors, emotional distress, and potential safety concerns.
Implement approved crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in accordance with facility policies and training.
Maintain continuous patient observation and supervision as assigned, including adherence to observation levels and safety precautions.
Document patient behaviors, observations, interventions, and significant events accurately and promptly.
Communicate relevant patient information to nursing staff and other treatment-team members.
Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe patient-care environment.
Follow facility policies, procedures, safety protocols, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Protect patient confidentiality and uphold each patient's rights, dignity, and privacy.
Report suspected abuse, neglect, self-harm, aggression, or other safety concerns in accordance with facility policies and applicable law.
Perform other duties as assigned.