Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)

Description

Job Description

The Behavioral Health Technician provides adult patient supervision in a treatment/educational milieu.  The BHT assists in the maintenance of a safe, secure environment that enhances treatment and/or educational effectiveness. This position operates in a residential environment, or in an outreach environment, such as community agencies. The position of BHT assists in progressive programmatic development using an integrative model of care with consideration of both behavioral and physical health issues. The BHT Provides screening, assessment, treatment planning, life skills, wellness and prevention activities, pre-vocational training, crisis intervention and individual or group counseling services to residents and clients. The BHT role will play a significant role in providing input, treatment, coordination for physical health, wellness and prevention as a member of a clinical team on site. The BHT contributes to a recovery-based environment.

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities

1. Provides care to patients in a manner that promotes safety, comfort and the therapeutic environment.

2. Assists patients with activities of daily living, attends to patient behavioral problems and aids in crisis intervention, as needed.

3. Works with other members of a multi-disciplinary team in leading activities such as current events groups, community meetings, goals groups, fitness groups, activities of daily living groups, and/or recreational activities as appropriate to the specified patient population.

4. Charts patient observations, following prescribed procedures and standards.

5. Participates in the development and implementation of patient treatment programs.

6. Maintains confidentiality of patient records.

7. Transport patients to and from appointments, clinics, laboratories, and/or treatments as needed and when appropriate.

8. May perform initial patient evaluations to determine treatment priorities, take vital signs, weights, and urine, stool and sputum specimens.

9. Attends and participates in group sessions, in-service education and staff meetings.

10. Maintains established institutional policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety and environmental and infection control standards.

11. Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in service meetings and workshops.

12. May provide liaison with patients, families of patients, or external facilities and agencies.

13. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

14. Assist in planning, implementing, evaluating and Psychoeducational groups.

15. Monitors activities and groups to process notes in the Electronic Health Records (EHR)

16. Provide transportation for patients to court, medical, and other appointments as deemed appropriate by supervisor.

17. Learn and maintain proficiency in basic EHR entries to include documentation of group classes and other miscellaneous case management entries both billable and non-billable.

18. Conduct hourly accountability/security walks.

19. May conduct daily house meetings.

20. Learn Urine Analysis procedures and conducts patient UA’s as appropriate.

21. Assist with intakes and discharges.

22. Maintain up to date with the Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) skills and competencies.

Statement of Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.

• Ability to interact with patients, faculty and/or staff in a team environment.

• Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.

• Learn and maintain skills in observing, assessing, and recording symptoms, reactions, and progress by obtaining vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature using manual and electronic devices.

• Ability to provide therapeutic patient care to mentally, emotionally, and/or developmentally disabled individuals.

• Ability to understand and follow safety procedures.

• Ability to assess and provide for the day-to-day needs of mentally, emotionally, and/or developmentally disabled patients.

• Ability to safely lift and physically manipulate patients.

• Skilled in preparing and maintaining patient records.

• Ability to communicate and interact with mental health professionals in a team environment.

• Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential issues.

• Foster a safe and therapeutic community environment.

• Maintain appropriate boundaries with patients.

• Provide direct patient care, guidance and positive role modeling. 

• Ability to