BHT Lead

Step One Halfway House•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The BHT Lead provides shift-level leadership, mentorship, and operational oversight of behavioral health technicians (BHTs) within Step One's Arizona-licensed Behavioral Health Residential Facility (BHRF). Working under the clinical direction of a Behavioral Health Professional (BHP) and in coordination with clinical and medical leadership, the BHT Lead ensures consistent delivery of direct care, resident supervision, and milieu management in accordance with A.A.C. Title 9, Chapter 10, Article 7 and applicable ADHS regulations. The BHT Lead performs all duties of a BHT and additionally serves as the on-shift point of leadership for the BHT team. The BHT Lead does not perform assessments, diagnoses, or treatment planning independently; rather, this role supports treatment plan execution, models clinical fidelity, and coordinates with BHPs, nursing, and clinical leadership to maintain safe, structured, and therapeutic operations.

Requirements

Meet all BHT qualifications under A.A.C. R9-10-101 and R9-10-115.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a BHT or in a similar direct-care role in behavioral health or residential treatment.
High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
Demonstrated leadership, communication, and de-escalation skills.
Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, or a good-cause exception, as required by ADHS licensing (A.A.C. R9-10-706).

Nice To Haves

Some college coursework in a behavioral health field.
Formal training or certification as a peer recovery support specialist (PRSS), BHPP-plus, or similar role.
Experience mentoring or precepting new hires in a behavioral health setting.
Training in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or crisis intervention (CPI/MAB).
Experience documenting in an electronic medical record (Kipu EMR experience is a plus).
Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills.

Responsibilities

Serve as the on-shift point of leadership for the BHT team during scheduled shifts.
Ensure appropriate staffing coverage, break coverage, and rounding assignments across the shift.
Monitor BHT documentation, safety checks, and shift task completion in real time.
Provide direct care, supervision, and milieu management alongside BHT staff.
Support residents with activities of daily living, groups, and structured programming.
Maintain a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented environment.
Onboard, precept, and mentor new BHTs during orientation and probationary periods.
Provide real-time coaching and feedback on documentation, engagement, de-escalation, and safety practices.
Support in-service training, peer training, and competency verification as assigned.
Lead shift-level response to behavioral crises, medical emergencies, and safety events using approved procedures.
Coordinate with nursing, clinical leadership, and emergency services as needed.
Support post-incident debriefs, documentation, and follow-up with leadership.
Ensure the BHT team follows A.A.C. R9-10, ADHS licensing, and facility policy on every shift.
Uphold resident rights, confidentiality (HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2), and dignity in all interactions.
Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation immediately, consistent with mandatory reporter obligations.
Communicate significant changes in resident status, staffing, or facility concerns to nursing, clinical leadership, and program leadership in a timely manner.
Participate in shift handoffs, staff meetings, and treatment team communications.
Support scheduling, timekeeping, and shift-swap coordination in partnership with leadership.