CBHT Full-time

About the Role:

The Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT) is a supporting role to give care to mentally ill or emotionally disturbed patients. Mental health technicians work under the direction of supervising mental health care professionals, such as nurses, psychiatrists or medical doctors and perform duties that include coordinating mental health care services, assisting in patient assessment, monitoring and documenting care, escorting patients and identifying the personal needs of patients.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Certification or licensure as a Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT) or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year experience working in behavioral health or mental health support roles.
• Strong understanding of behavioral health principles, crisis intervention techniques, and therapeutic modalities.
• Ability to pass background checks and comply with all regulatory and organizational policies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with diverse populations including children, adults, and elderly clients.
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems and data management.
• Training in trauma-informed care and culturally competent practices.
• Bilingual abilities or experience working in multilingual environments.

Responsibilities:

• Remain cognizant of patients and the environment, to assess that the patient is safe and that the environment is safe for the patient. 
• Physically SEE the patient every 15 minutes and document time, location of patient and what activity patient is doing on the 15 minute rounding sheet. If the patient is awake, staff should make eye contact. If the patient is sleeping, staff should observe at least 3 breaths. 
• Notify Charge Nurse regarding patients displaying inappropriate or dangerous behavior. 
• Staff should observe the environment for contraband or potential hazards, and remove any identified hazards, and alert the appropriate parties.
• Ensure that all doors are secured and that those exiting the elevator wait until the doors have closed until walking into the unit. 
• Staff should observe the patient’s mood to assess for signs of pre-aggression, and behavior to ensure patient is not exhibiting behaviors that would make him a danger to self or others.

Skills:

The required and preferred skills are essential for delivering high-quality behavioral health services on a daily basis. Strong communication skills enable effective interaction with clients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure clarity and empathy in all exchanges. Clinical assessment and intervention skills are applied to accurately identify client needs and implement appropriate therapeutic strategies. Organizational and documentation skills ensure that all client information is recorded meticulously, supporting continuity of care and compliance with legal standards. Additionally, cultural competence and adaptability allow the professional to tailor interventions to diverse client backgrounds, enhancing engagement and treatment efficacy.