Behavioral Health Technician-1

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Technician I position is responsible for providing direct and supportive care to clients/patients.  Duties generally include, but are not limited to, providing general oversight of day to day activities and at times, redirect of clients/patients; health monitoring (vital signs), intervene/respond to crisis and communicate with established treatment team, facilitate group education/structured activities, and/or transport clients/patients as needed. Behavioral Health Technicians are responsible for possessing a basic understanding of client/patient treatment plan, monitoring and documenting client/patient behavior and providing safe, therapeutic, and /supportive environment for clients/patients.

Essential Job Functions:

For Residential Facility and Withdrawal Management:

• Admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge clients/patients.

• Ensure monitoring of vital signs, signs and symptoms of withdrawal, and possess knowledge to determine need for escalation to medical intervention when critical symptoms present.

• Obtain and record vital signs and relevant medical symptoms per policy and/or as indicated by medical personnel when applicable.

• Oversee medication administration per policy and procedure and as permitted by appropriate training certifications/permissions.

• Adhere to all medication policies and work with trained nursing staff to ensure all medication policies are followed whether self-administered by client/patient or staff-administered when appropriate training permits.

• Maintains accurate records of client medications and documents the self-administration of medications by clients or staff administration of medications.

• Monitors client self-administration of over the counter (OTC) medications, as well as the inventory and storage of OTC medications.

• Properly documents client’s reported blood glucose level as indicated and maintains agency approved equipment per manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Reports medication errors and/or medication discrepancies per agency policy and procedures.

• Follows Medication Storage and Destruction Policy & Procedure.

• Screen and monitor clients/patients for signs and symptoms of withdrawal to ensure that safety and recovery needs are being met (when applicable).

• Facilitate client/patient supervision checks per policy and/or procedure or when indicated by a safety/precautions plan.

For Illinois Only in addition to other duties listed:  Serve in on-call for shift coverage.

For Residential Care Facility (RCF):

• Assist clients/patients with personal care (e.g. grooming, bathing, dressing, etc.) when needed.

• Admit, supervise, monitor, transfer, and discharge clients/patients.

• Ensure monitoring of vital signs and possess knowledge to determine need for escalation to medical intervention when critical symptoms present.

• Obtain and record vital signs and relevant medical symptoms per policy and/or as indicated by medical personnel when applicable.

• Oversee medication administration per policy and procedure and as permitted by appropriate training certifications/permissions.

• Adhere to all medication policies and work with trained nursing staff to ensure all medication policies are followed whether self-administered by client/patient or staff-administered when appropriate training permits.

• Maintains accurate records of client medications and documents the self-administration of medications by clients or staff administration of medications.

• Monitors client self-administration of over the counter (OTC) medications, as well as the inventory and storage of OTC medications.

• Properly documents client’s reported blood glucose level as indicated and maintains agency approved equipment per manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Reports medication errors and/or medication discrepancies per agency policy and procedures.

• Follows Medication Storage and Destruction Policy & Procedure.

• Note: Any self-administration of medication has to be with physician orders (whether OTC or prescribed medications).

• Facilitate client/patient supervision checks per policy and/or procedure or when indicated by a safety/precautions plan.

For all locations:

• Encourage clients/patients to adhere to program expectations and rules in a trauma informed manner and communicate concerning behaviors to the treatment team and supervisor as soon as possible.  The supervisor and/or treatment te