Behavioral Health Associate - Temporary 3-months

About the role

The Behavioral Health Associate provides direct client care and participates in the operation of a therapeutic program. Shifts are Tues-Sat 2pm-10:30pm.

Responsibilities

• Conducts behavioral health groups following Comprehensive Healthcare’s guidelines and policies.
• Leads groups using effective group facilitation skills that promote participation and interaction among group members.
• Utilizes group process to develop insight, practice skills, and motivate client for change.
• Follows lesson plan or curriculum and connects presented material to individual treatment plan goals.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of development in children, youth and young adults.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge and understanding of behavioral health problems in children, youth and young adults.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of and ability to work with issues of confidentiality, consent and capacity.
• Demonstrates the ability to collaborate and coordinate with family, parents, caregivers and community and natural supports.
• Communicates effectively with children and youth of differing ages and developmental levels.
• Utilizes appropriate crisis intervention techniques for client stabilization.
• Accurately screens for risk to self, others, property and the presence of grave disability and makes appropriate referrals.
• Documents and reports and/or notifies as required by law.
• Applies QPRT (Question, Persuade, Refer or Treat) principles in assessing risk and in safety and treatment planning.
• Develops and documents appropriate safety plans.
• Demonstrates the ability to conduct screenings, admissions and discharges as part of an integrated detox treatment plan.
• Accurately collects vitals including blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate and breathalyzer and urine specimen.
• Accurately administers and interprets intoxication and withdrawal monitoring scales.
• Appropriately monitors the stabilization of clients including mental health and emotional dysregulations and coordinates care as directed by supervisor and mental health professional.
• Demonstrates and utilizes knowledge of normal aging process and age related changes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of neurocognitive disorders and their impacts on functioning.
• Demonstrates awareness of how medical issues can affect mental status.
• Demonstrates ability to minimize distractions while observing medication self-administration.
• Demonstrates ability to locate and adhere to medication management policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
• Demonstrates ability to provide education, support and instructions during medication self-administration.
• P practices the Five Rights of Medication Administration; Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dose, Right Route and Right Time.
• Demonstrates ability to order/re-order medications.
• Demonstrates ability to document medication self-administration in Medication Administration Record (MAR).
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of medication adherence, medication effectiveness, and side effects of medications reporting information to appropriate supervisor(s) and/or physicians as applicable.
• Demonstrates ability to locate and complete Medication Error Reports according to policy.
• Demonstrates ability to store and/or dispose of medications according to policy.
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of clients understanding of need for medication and provides education as applicable.
• Counsels and supports clients in various areas such as self-care, interpersonal and social skills, use of leisure time, recreational opportunities, form completion, community resources, impulse control, behavior management and other practical living skills.
• Stabilizes crisis situations by engaging appropriate services to maintain the least restrictive environment possible while assuring the safety and wellbeing of others.
• Adheres to policies and procedures regarding use and application of seclusion and restraints to ensure safety for clients and staff.
• Documents specific client behaviors and staff interventions leading to safe use of seclusion and/or restraint, according to policies and facility protocols.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of skills in accordance with agency approved crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques such as those taught in PROACT and Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) training.
• Completes all required service notes according to Comprehensive Healthcare’s guidelines, policies and procedures regarding format, content and timeliness.
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessment of client symptoms and their response to prescribed medications.
• Provides support and education to encourage clients to take medications as prescribed.
• Promotes illness self-management skills to assist clients with medication adherence, identifying warning signs and symptoms, and symptom management skills.
• Makes appropriate referrals to medical staff as needed.
• Maintains a clean and safe living environment by performing cleaning and laundry duties required for the upkeep of the facility.
• Safely transports clients to appointments in personal or agency vehicles as authorized.
• Coordinates care with the client’s medical providers.
• Trains and monitors clients in such areas as self-care, interpersonal and social skills, use of leisure time, recreational opportunities, form completion, community resources, impulse control, behavior management and other practical living skills.
• Reports complaints to concerns related to client abuse, neglect, exploitation to the Residential Program licensing entity.
• Prepares and serves nutritious and palatable meals and snacks in accordance with the Washington State Administrative Code (WAC).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of work experience.
• Must be eligible for registration as Agency Affiliated Counselor.
• Valid driver's license and vehicle liability insurance.
• Food Worker Card.