JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Behavioral Health Technician
Department: Operations
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
SUMMARY
The Behavioral Health Technician is responsible for providing direct support and supervision to clients in a structured treatment environment. This role helps maintain a safe, consistent, and supportive setting by reinforcing program expectations, monitoring client behavior, and assisting with daily operations.
The BHT works closely with the Operations and Clinical Teams to support client engagement, ensure safety, maintain continuity of care through consistent observation, communication, and documentation.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
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Provide continuous supervision of clients to ensure safety and adherence to program expectations.
- Maintain awareness of client location, behavior, and overall environment at all times.
- Support a structured daily schedule and assist clients in following programming and routines.
- Monitor for changes in client behavior, mood, or condition and report concern promptly.
- Build appropriate rapport with clients while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Encourage participation in programming, groups, and recovery-focused activities.
- Reinforce program expectations, accountability, and daily structure.
- Provide support during transitions, activities, and daily routines.
- Respond to crisis situations using approved de-escalation techniques.
- Recognize and respond to AMA risk, escalating concerns appropriately.
- Maintain a calm and professional approach in high-stress situations.
- Immediately notify appropriate staff of any safety or clinical concerns.
- Complete accurate, timely, and objective documentation, including shift notes, incident reports, and logs.
- Ensure all documentation meets organizational standards and is audit ready.
- Communicate relevant updates, incidents, and concerns to incoming staff and leadership.
- Participate in shift change reports to ensure continuity of care.
- Assist in maintaining a clean, safe, and organized environment.
- Support daily operations, including client movement, activities, and schedules.
- Follow all facility procedures, including safety protocols and emergency response guidelines.
- Assist with admissions, discharges, and client transitions as directed.
- Maintain strict adherence to HIPAA, 42 CFR Par 2, and all confidentiality requirements.
- Follow all organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- Always maintain professional boundaries with clients.
- Participate in required training, competency validations, and ongoing education.
The job duties listed in this job description may not be inclusive of all requirements of this position. Other duties may be assigned by your supervisor.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
COMPETENCIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Ethics - Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles; upholds organizational values.
Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers. Ability to communicate effectively through email. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
COMPUTER SKILLS
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) as well as CRM platforms, specifically Sales Force.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
