Behavioral Health Technician II

About Us: The Fort Lauderdale campus offers an innovative residential program designed for adults with higher-acuity psychiatric symptoms and co-occurring substance use disorders. As Lifeskills' designated destination for the most complex and acute cases, this campus provides stabilization, thorough evaluation, and evidence-based treatment within a structured clinical environment - part of the broader Lifeskills continuum of care.

The Lifeskills Fort Lauderdale detox program provides 24/7 medical supervision in a safe, comfortable setting. Located steps from the ER, this state-of-the-art facility delivers clinically excellent care for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, ensuring safety, stability, and a strong clinical foundation from the first day of treatment.

Why You Will Love Working With Us!

At Lifeskills Behavioral Health, we are a dynamic, dedicated, and growing team of professionals deeply passionate about providing evidence-based and personalized clinical care for mental health disorders and behavioral health conditions.

Since everyone has different experiences with mental health disorders, mental health therapies must be equally as unique to address those diverse needs. Working with qualified doctoral level clinicians at Lifeskills gives individuals the opportunity to develop personalized mental health treatment plans that address their needs and help them take the next step in their recovery.

Our team's foundation is client centered care and clinical excellence through our 5-star service commitment - Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Flexibility, Service, and Collaboration. We are committed to our team, and our team is committed to our clients!

What we offer

• Collaborative environment dedicated to clinical excellence
• Multiple Career Development Pathways
• Company Supported Continuing Education and Certification
• Multiple Health Plan Design Options Available
• Flexible Dental and Vision Plan Options
• 100% Company Paid EAP Emotional Well-Being Support
• 100% Company Paid Critical Illness (with health enrollment plan)
• 100% Company Paid Life and ADD
• 401K with Company Match
• Company-Sponsored HSA, FSA, and DSA Tax Savings Accounts
• Generous Team Member Referral Program
• Parental Leave

Position Summary

Behavioral Health Technicians (BHT) interact with clients throughout the shift, assists and supports clients with functional needs. Behavioral Health Technicians are responsible for managing the daily milieu of the facility, ensuring the safety of clients, and maintaining a therapeutic environment. BHTs are expected to familiarize themselves with the histories and needs of the clients and be capable of identifying cues and behaviors that may indicate a change in clients' status or condition. Position is responsible for documenting client records and communicating proactively with clinical team members and supervisors.

Relationships and Contacts

Within the organization: Maintains frequent and close working relationships with program staff and facility team members throughout the organization.

Outside the organization: Initiates and maintains strong professional relationships with clients and families, clinical providers, referral partners and vendors, as needed.


RESPONSIBILITY SUMMARY: Maintain Client safety at all times; monitor and record Client behavior during the course of the assigned shift; transport and/or direct Clients to appointments; provide a structured living experience while Clients are in the residence; adhere to and reinforce policies and procedures related to Client care; take direction from the Residential Shift Supervisor(s) and Director of Clinical Services.

Position Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities

1. Collaborates with clinical team to determine/select appropriate interventions based on the needs of individual clients.
2. Actively participates and engages clients in the milieu and outside activities throughout the workday, often in a variety of group settings.
3. Prompts clients to complete ADLs, including clean room, hygiene, laundry, etc., and completes regular room hygiene checks.
4. Conducts client drug screening, pregnancy tests, and breathalyzers, as necessary.
5. Prompts clients to attend all meals in a timely manner and provides supervision and structure at mealtimes as appropriate.
6. Models effective table manners and small talk during mealtimes, focusing on engaging all clients.
7. Provides, structures, and maintains a therapeutic environment in collaboration with other staff.
8. Therapeutically interacts with the client in one-to-one situations, community, and group meetings, maintaining appropriate boundaries and modeling appropriate social behavior.
9. Collaborates with clinical team to facilitate client education groups.
10. Reacts therapeutically in crisis situations.
11. Recognizes client's level of behavioral functioning and modifies approaches accordingly to include recognizing mood changes and developing DBT coping skills.
12. Maintains therapeutic relationships with clients using praise and other reinforcers to encourage appropriate behaviors and attitudes, setting limits in a kind and firm manner.
13. Documents in accordance with policies and procedures services provided, incident reports, shift reports, group and milieu notes in a timely and accurate manner.
14. Complies with the facility safety procedures as outlined in the policy and procedure manual to include fire drills, evacuation procedures, and internal/external disaster plan.
15. Demonstrates effective verbal intervention skills in managing escalating clients and involving other staff as needed.
16. Adheres to DBT model and interventions.
17. Performs a vehicle safety and fuel check prior to use of any company vehicle, reporting any concerns to supervisor or manager.
18. Supports clients in effectively managing leisure time, including joining in activities with clients.
19. Greet all guests warmly and friendly.
20. Follows through with clinical precautions effectively, including visual clinical observations.
21. Answer phone and field call in an upbeat and positive manner, focusing on customer service.
22. Transport clients to appointments, supporting clients while regulating in community.
23. Identifies and recognize triggers for escalation with each client, and utilize de-escalation techniques, focusing on prevention of crisis.
24. Gathers clients for outings and groups to promote program engagement.
25. Supports medication compliance and management of client self-administration.
26. Prepares for client admissions to all levels of care including but not limited to ensuring room is prepared, completes intake documentation, ensures all medications are documented and stored.
27. Conducting client belonging search, inventory and notifying therapist of any contraband.
28. Supports discharge processes, as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Conduct chart audits following program policy timelines, as requested.
2. Can be relied upon to be at work as scheduled and is rarely absent from work, notifying the supervisor if absent.
3. Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.
4. Reads, understands, and adheres to all company policy statements on ethics, conduct, and conflict of interests.
5. Adheres to facility policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, implementation regularly.
6. Maintains positive attitude and acts as a team player with others on the treatment team.
7. Attends all supervisory trainings within assigned time frames as required by the facility.
8. Writes clearly, informatively, and effectively.
9. Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Highschool diploma or equivalent required, drug and alcohol certification preferred or a willingness to complete requirements within the orientation period. Requires 2+ years' experience working with clients with substance abuse and/or mental health issues.


Additional Requirements

• Valid Florida Driver's License.
• Current CPR and First Aid Certification, or willingness to complete within the first 30 days of employment.
• Clearance of TB test.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to communicate with peers/general public, clients and/or vendors
• Tolerant to various noise levels: noise level in the work environment varies - may be very quiet to moderate
• Job performance will require the ability to move throughout the building as well as sit or remain stationary for extended periods of time
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to talk or hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste or smell.
• Ability to move up to 25 pounds

Skill Competencies

• Understands and maintains professional boundaries.
• Demonstrates an understanding of rules/limits of patient confidentiality and maintains appropriate levels of client confidentiality/privacy.
• Demonstrates an understanding of identifying abuse/neglect in client population.
• Demonstrates behavior that promotes positive customer relations with clients, staff, and visitors.
• Contributes to continuous quality improvement - can identify performance improvement processes and verbalize role in the process.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to universal precautions, infection control and proper handwashing.
• Demonstrates proper procedures in responding to emergency and safety drills.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize and respond to aggressive behavior and employ crisis intervention techniques.
• Demonstrates ability to perform CPR and first aid.
• Demonstrates ability to observe, supervise, evaluate, and document client behaviors in groups and planned activities.
• Demonstrates knowledge of mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize symptoms and distress of clients.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate relevant information pertinent to client care.
• Demonstrates consideration of and respect for values and cultural beliefs.

Work Schedule: Depending on shift assignment: 1st shift = 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 2nd shift = 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; 3rd shift = 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. This schedule will flex as work demands increase and decrease and may require inclusion of weekends and holidays. Times may vary with the approval of the Residential Supervisor and Director of Clinical Services. Scheduling is completed upon hire and may be amended at any time per the needs of the organization. You are responsible for knowing your assigned schedule.

Lifeskills Behavioral Health provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Lifeskills Behavioral Health reserves the rights to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "At-Will."