Behavioral Health Technician

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Behavioral Health Technician

REPORTS TO POSITION: Assistant Manager/ Assistant Nurse Manager

DEPARTMENT: Inpatient Behavioral Health

DATE LAST REVIEWED: March 2025

OUR VISION: Creating America’s healthiest community, together

OUR MISSION: In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

OUR VALUES: Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Inpatient Behavioral Health Departments provide services to the community and region including: treatment for the SPMI population, acute mental health crisis requiring hospitalization, and collaboration with the outpatient community at discharge.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Behavioral Health Technician assists in providing direct patient care on both Inpatient Behavioral Health units. Technicians have an important in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients and their families and helping patients utilize services to achieve optimum level of function, in accordance with St. Charles Health System (SCHS) and Sage View mission, vision, values, success factors, philosophy, policies and procedures. This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Works within the multidisciplinary team; including Masters Level Clinicians, Physicians, RNs, etc. in collaboration in the implementation of the treatment plan.

Implements department policies using reasonable knowledge of behavioral health principles and practices.

Technicians are asked to be vigilant about safety policies and procedures.

Assists in the planning and implementation of therapeutic, recreational, social and skills training activities to be implemented on the unit in group setting and in individual interventions.

Participates in daily shift change meetings to assist with evaluation and treatment planning for clients.

Acts as a facilitator or co-facilitator of therapeutic skill development groups.

Maintains client records and documents services provided to reflect progress in treatment.

Assesses individual client functional skills and treatment needs and communicates assessments with the multidisciplinary team.

May be assigned to a train or teach new caregivers, interns, volunteers, or other members of the interdisciplinary team

Participates in the development and implementation of Evidenced Based Practices. Technicians are asked to assess what evidenced based practices would be most beneficial to patients based on current mental health issues, psychosis, cognitive abilities, and developmental stage.

Assists with all direct patient care needs, including patient hygiene, patient transfers, patient belongings, obtaining vitals signs, serving patient meals, patient rounding, answering phones and transportation for patients.

Provides crisis intervention and de-escalation to patients as needed.

Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.

Supports Value Improvement Practice (VIP- Lean) principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.

Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.

May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

Participates in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of each individual, patient and caregiver.

Provides a therapeutic presence in service to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way, including introducing oneself and explaining role in patient’s care, asking the patient his or her preferred name, sitting with the patient to determine his or her care goals, active listening, and communicating effectively and appropriately through touch, eye contact, etc.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests including participating in Code Gray interventions as needed

Documents all patient care with proficiency in compliance with hospital policies, procedures and regulatory agencies.

EDUCATION

Required : Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral sciences field or a combination of at least three years relevant education, training or experience.

Preferred : N/A

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION

Required : American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification.

Valid Oregon driver's license and ability to meet SCHS driving requirements.

Oregon Food Handlers Card

Preferred : Certified Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) with the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO). Certified Nursing Assistant-Level 2 with the Oregon State Board of Nursing or EMT-Basic certification.

EXPERIENCE

Required : N/A

Preferred : Two years’ experience in the field of mental health, including one year of inpatient, residential or hospital based psychiatric experience.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, keyboard operation, use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.

Frequently (50%): Sitting, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-25 pounds. The use and operation of a motor vehicle for Home Health and Wound Caregivers.

Occasionally (25%): Bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, grasping/squeezing, ability to hear whispered speech level.

Rarely (10%): Climbing stairs.

Never (0%): Climbing ladder/step-stool (varies by area), operation of a motor vehicle.

Exposure to Elemental Factors

Rarely (10%): Wet/slippery area, chemical solution.

Never (0%): Heat, cold, noise, dust, vibration, uneven surface.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category

Risk for Exposure to BBP

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